Humans need around 2000 calories each day to maintain their overall health. This is actually quite a bit of food, says Marla Ahlgrimm. However, we often eat the wrong ones, and during the holidays, we might consume four times this amount of calories in just a few hours.
But what happens to the body when we overeat? According to Marla Ahlgrimm, one of the first things is that your stomach expands well beyond its normal size. As your belly gets bigger, it can push against other organs, which is what makes you feel uncomfortable after a large Christmas dinner, for example. Many people also report feeling tired or just plain lazy after eating more than their fill.
Unfortunately, overdoing it does more than make you tired, it also has a negative effect on your brain and body. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that the more food inside of you, the more hormones and enzymes your body has to secrete just to break it down. During the digestion process, you might feel even more uncomfortable thanks to a buildup of hydrochloric acid, which is what causes heartburn and acid reflux. Further along into digestion, you may feel uncomfortable rumbles in your gut – this is because gas is a natural side-effect of digestion.
Temporary discomfort aside, Marla Ahlgrimm says there are many long-term effects associated with eating too much. While you might gain a few pounds in November and December, if your poor eating habits linger into the new year, you can actually hurt your digestive system, sleep cycle, and ability to maintain your weight. Further, eating too many of the wrong kinds of foods – desserts, white bread – can lead to a host of other health conditions, like diabetes and obesity.
Marla Ahlgrimm says that one of the simplest ways to avoid overindulgence is to drink a full glass of water before each meal.
