There are also more emergency patients after the Spring Festival. Eating high-calorie and high-fat foods for several consecutive days has caused a sudden increase in the number of patients with digestive tract diseases. 

How to resolve post-holiday gastrointestinal syndrome? Recently, Dr. Lin Yi, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University who works in the Department of Gastroenterology of Fujian Provincial Hospital, was invited to tell us effective countermeasures on the program “Sharing the Insights of Great Doctors”.

People who are overly full and have no physical or mental work during the Spring Festival are especially prone to gastrointestinal problems.

In addition, some patients with underlying diseases such as gallstones are prone to acute cholecystitis and gastrointestinal discomfort due to excessive intake of high-fat foods.

Therefore, many people choose to fast for a few days after the festival, thinking that this method can clear the stomach. In fact, this kind of overeating and starvation is very detrimental to the stomach.

“Stomach health is about a balanced diet. After the festival, you can reduce the amount of each meal and eat more vegetables, but you still need to eat regularly. It is a good habit to have more meals a day but less food at each. It is good to ensure that you take a regular amount of food, and you can’t directly fast,” said Dr. Lin.

Some people want to lose weight quickly after the festival through diet pills and diet tea, which is also not desirable.

“Most diet pills and diet teas are not formal drugs. Controlling food intake and moderate exercise are still the most effective ways to lose weight. 100g of pure lean beef has only 50 kcal. In addition, vegetables are better than fruits. You should pay attention to maintaining balanced nutrition.”  

During the Spring Festival, it is inevitable to drink in excess. Drinking a lot of alcohol or strong tea is a liver-damaging behavior. Drinking alcohol not only hurts the liver but also hurts the stomach. There is no safe intake threshold for alcohol. Moreover, there is currently no direct drug that can quickly and effectively dispel the effects of alcohol.

But there are ways to reduce the harm of alcohol:

1. Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach: eat some protein food before drinking alcohol;

1. Avoid drinking mixed alcohol;
2. Drink more water while drinking alcohol in order to speed up metabolism;
3. Before drinking alcohol, you can take some drugs such as liver protection tablets which can protect the gastric mucosa.

“Compendium of Materia Medica” records that Ganoderma lucidum enters the five meridians (kidney meridian, liver meridian, heart meridian, spleen meridian and lung meridian) and tonifies the five internal organs. Ganoderma lucidum has been regarded as the “top grade medicine for liver protection” since ancient times, but in fact, Ganoderma lucidum also has certain recuperation effects to intestines and stomach.

Ganoderma lucidum has protective effects on the intestinal mechanical barrier, immune barrier and flora barrier, and can treat intestinal barrier damage induced by various factors.

Diagram showing the role of Ganoderma lucidum in protecting the intestinal barrier

The intestinal mechanical barrier is composed of the intestinal mucosa and its surface mucus. Studies have shown that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides can ameliorate palmitic acid-induced porcine intestinal epithelial cell injury by inhibiting the apoptosis and autophagy of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells.

At the same time, Ganoderma lucidum can treat intestinal damage caused by various factors by regulating intestinal flora and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal flora barrier.

Zhi-Bin Lin, “Pharmacology and Clinical Applications of Ganoderma lucidum“, p120 – 121

That is to say, Ganoderma lucidum has a good conditioning effect on gastrointestinal function, can regulate intestinal flora, protect gastrointestinal health. More importantly, Ganoderma lucidum is mild in nature and will not stimulate the intestines and stomach.

Gastrointestinal problems should not be underestimated. Finally, Dr. Lin reminded us to have regular gastroenteroscopy examinations! After the festival, it is necessary to maintain normal work and rest and to adjust the diet and daily life to a healthy mode. Hope you all have a healthy year!

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