Turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower cheese, gravy, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce – when we sit down to dinner on Christmas Day our plates are typically piled high with all of this and more, washing it all down with a glass of Buck’s Fizz.
Some of us also can’t resist a second helping and a bowl of pudding – because hey, it’s Christmas after all.
But have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what all of this food does to you…. to your insides?
Well if you did happen to be curious, you’re in luck as healthy eating experts over at musclefood revealed to North Wales Live what happens to our bodies after consuming so much stuff on December 25.
They broke it all down, sharing what happens at different stages after the big meal – and it’s not pretty!
Here’s a look at what they had to say:
After an hour
Blood has flown straight to your digestive tract in order to break down the food. For this to happen your body naturally increases its metabolic and heart rate, meaning your internal temperature also increases, resulting in those dreaded meat sweats.
The drinks you enjoyed earlier are now working to slow down digestion, and with rich foods being difficult to break down you’re left feeling stuffed and sluggish.
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Two hours later
Proteins and fats sit in your stomach for two to three hours leaving you feeling bloated and uncomfortable.
This is also when wind hits, as your stomach squeezes to get rid of all the air you swallowed when eating, enzymes are also trying to break down the food.
Raffinose, a complex sugar found in vegetables such as Brussel Sprouts, is something the body can’t process, meaning there’s only one way out.
Six hours after dinner
All the food and drink is now in the large intestine – a process that can take six to eight hours. This means that you may start to consider picking on the leftovers.
24 hours later
A trip to the toilet will get rid of any undigested food left in the body and the hangover should begin to ease.
Told you it wasn’t pretty!
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