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Eating Well/Getty Images
The holiday season is here, meaning many people will enjoy delicious meals featuring traditional dishes likeroasted turkeyandcreamy mashed potatoes. While these feasts are a great way to spend time with family and friends, sometimes the aftermath can leave you feeling bloated, sluggish and somewhat uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there’s one essential thing you can do to help your body feel better the day after:stay hydrated. Proper hydration aids digestion, prevents constipation and helps regulate blood sugar levels.Read on to discover why hydration matters after eating a big meal and get expert tips for remedying overeating symptoms the next day.
The Best Way to Stay Hydrated All Day Long, According to a Peloton Instructor
Additionally, research and experts agree that staying hydrated can helpregulate blood sugar levels.Balls explains that managing your blood sugar is important to prevent sudden energy crashes that leave you feeling sluggish and tired, especially after a meal high in simple orrefined carbohydrates.
5 Drinks to Avoid When You Need to Hydrate, According to a Dietitian
Additional Tips to Feel Your Best After a Big Meal
Here are other steps to help you feel your best after a big meal.
The Bottom Line
After eating a big meal, the best thing you can do for your body is to stay hydrated. Drinking water helps support digestion, stabilize blood sugar and flush out excess sodium, reducing bloating and discomfort. In addition to hydration, staying active, eating fiber-rich foods and limiting sugary drinks can help you feel more comfortable the day after.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, et al.Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population.Nutrients. 2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, et al.Effects of the DASH Diet and Sodium Intake on Bloating: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Enhörning S, Brunkwall L, Tasevska I, et al.Water Supplementation Reduces Copeptin and Plasma Glucose in Adults With High Copeptin: The H2O Metabolism Pilot Study.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(6):1917-1925. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02195Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Ziani K, Mititelu M, et al.Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review.Nutrients. 2022;14(13):2641. doi:10.3390/nu14132641
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, et al.Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population.Nutrients. 2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, et al.Effects of the DASH Diet and Sodium Intake on Bloating: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Enhörning S, Brunkwall L, Tasevska I, et al.Water Supplementation Reduces Copeptin and Plasma Glucose in Adults With High Copeptin: The H2O Metabolism Pilot Study.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(6):1917-1925. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02195Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Ziani K, Mititelu M, et al.Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review.Nutrients. 2022;14(13):2641. doi:10.3390/nu14132641
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, et al.Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population.Nutrients. 2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, et al.Effects of the DASH Diet and Sodium Intake on Bloating: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Enhörning S, Brunkwall L, Tasevska I, et al.Water Supplementation Reduces Copeptin and Plasma Glucose in Adults With High Copeptin: The H2O Metabolism Pilot Study.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(6):1917-1925. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02195Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Ziani K, Mititelu M, et al.Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review.Nutrients. 2022;14(13):2641. doi:10.3390/nu14132641
Liska D, Mah E, Brisbois T, et al.Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population.Nutrients. 2019;11(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu11010070
Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, et al.Effects of the DASH Diet and Sodium Intake on Bloating: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283
Enhörning S, Brunkwall L, Tasevska I, et al.Water Supplementation Reduces Copeptin and Plasma Glucose in Adults With High Copeptin: The H2O Metabolism Pilot Study.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(6):1917-1925. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-02195
Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Ziani K, Mititelu M, et al.Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review.Nutrients. 2022;14(13):2641. doi:10.3390/nu14132641
