Breaking Your Fast: How to Avoid Indigestion After Fasting

For people who are fasting, the thought of eating a heavy meal may seem like a reward after grueling hours without food. However, some health experts caution against eating right away after a period of fasting.

The logic behind this advice is the tendency for one to overeat or eat too quickly¹ after being deprived of food for so long.² This may then raise one’s risk for dyspepsia or indigestion symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fullness that happens earlier than expected, burning sensations in the stomach, bloating, gas, and nausea.³

But should these symptoms stand in the way of your fasting journey and the purpose behind it? Absolutely not! What you can do, though, is to take note of strategies that’ll not only help you eat properly after fasting but also reduce the risk of discomfort caused by indigestion symptoms too.

How Eating Habits Post-Fast Contribute to Indigestion

It’s important that the digestive system works harmoniously to ensure optimal digestion and prevent any mishaps. Sadly, one misfiring organ or substance can negatively affect the digestion process and make one prone to symptoms of indigestion. This may be the case for people who practice intermittent fasting patterns who may be missing a key piece of the digestion puzzle in the form of digestive enzymes.

Digestive enzymes assist in breaking down certain types of food to ensure you get the nutrients found within them. Some of the most common digestive enzymes include protease, amylase, and lipase, which are responsible for breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. These enzymes are released by key organs like the pancreas, small intestine, salivary glands, and stomach cells upon smelling and tasting food and once it goes through the digestion process.⁴

Since people who fast base their eating patterns on a specified schedule, there is a big possibility that their bodies don’t produce a lot of digestive enzymes during the periods they don’t eat. This can be detrimental because as soon as they take those first few bites of a post-fast meal, there won’t be enough digestive enzymes present to help with breaking down food and digesting it properly.

Think of the situation as an understaffed restaurant on a very busy day. When there’s not enough staff to cover the needs of huge numbers of hungry customers, chaos can happen and take shape in the form of discomfort and dissatisfaction, which in this case can manifest as indigestion symptoms.

Why It’s a Good Idea to Ask Your Doctor About Digestive Enzyme Supplements

If you’re about to eat after hours of prolonged fasting, make sure your body is equipped to handle the food you are about to eat.

While there are some food options that contain some digestive enzymes,⁵ now may be the right time to ask your doctor about supplements like Enzymax Forte^® that contain digestive enzymes needed to break down food.⁶

Compared to other digestive enzyme supplements that only work on the intestines, Enzymax Forte^® has a capsule-inside-capsule technology that helps promote targeted enzyme delivery to the stomach AND the intestines. This digestive enzyme supplement may also help relieve symptoms like indigestion and flatulence, both of which may be linked to an enzyme deficiency or imbalance.⁶

While Enzymax Forte^® doesn’t claim to be a cure for a lack of digestive enzyme deficiencies in the body, it may help people with a higher known risk for this health issue, such as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics,⁷ smokers,⁸ and the elderly.⁹

Check Whether Intermittent Fasting Is Right for You

This sounds like a bitter pill to swallow, but some health experts have actually flagged groups who should not be practicing intermittent fasting. These include children and teenagers under 18 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with a previous history of an eating disorder.¹⁰

If you are taking medicines to address blood pressure or heart disease, speak to your doctor first before attempting to fast. Prolonged fasting can increase the risk of sodium, potassium, and mineral imbalances.² Make sure to get prior clearance from your doctor to determine whether intermittent fasting is ideal for you.

Break Your Fast Slowly, Steadily, and Gently

When you’re about to have your first meal after a prolonged fast, many health experts advise eating your meals slowly and gently. While it can be tempting to indulge in lots of comfort food, remember that the body may not have enough digestive enzymes yet at this point to break them down accordingly.

It can be difficult for stomach acid (and the enzymes and other substances found in it) to break down and digest large amounts of food and/or rich or fatty food that can be thick or heavy.³ At some point, the digestive tract may be overwhelmed, won’t work properly, and possibly trigger some of the signs of indigestion.

To prevent indigestion symptoms, start your meal by drinking fluids and having a small snack or a very light meal. Chew your food slowly within a 5- to 15-minute timeframe. At the same time, avoid eating citrus fruits and spicy, fried, or fatty food; and drinking cold liquids, caffeinated drinks, and alcoholic beverages that may trigger indigestion symptoms.¹²

While these strategies may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preventing post-fast indigestion as a whole, these are probably some of the most effortless and accessible methods. Don’t be afraid of the signs of post-fast indigestion — remember that this can be prevented by nourishing your body with the help of digestive enzymes found in supplements like Enzymax Forte^®.

Enzymax Forte^® is available online and in leading drugstores nationwide at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php48.00 per capsule and Php960.00 per box of 20 capsules.

MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG ENZYMAX FORTE^® AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT.