Have you ever wondered what happens to your body after eating Christmas dinner? Well, as you begin to prepare your festive feast, it may be a great idea not to think of the discomfort it may lead to. Here we show the happening in your body in a 24 hour timeline after consuming the typical Christmas dinner!
In the first 5 minutes
The first sip of your alcoholic beverage will hit you just after five to ten minutes; this is due to the alcohol being quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Majority of the alcohol is absorbed by the small intestine, while 20% is entered through the stomach.
The next 20 minutes
It is known that the average stomach capacity is about 1 litre, but it actually takes 20 minutes from when you first eat for the ‘feeling full’ thought to go from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain. By this point, you have already overeaten. Total time elapsed : 25 mins
The next 30 minutes
As you are eating, the food increases your blood sugar levels and when this happens your pancreas starts to produce insulin. This converts glucose into a storable form called glycogen. You then feel extremely tired, due to the resulting drop in your blood sugar levels. Total time elapsed : 55 mins
One hour later
More blood flows to the digestive tract after eating. To help digestion, your heart and metabolic rate hikes up as well as your body temperature, leading you to sweat more and feel more tired. What’s even worse is that alcohol slows down digestion and the rich foods are harder to process. Total time elapsed : 2 hours
Two hours later
A delicious but heavy meal rich in fat and protein tends to sit in your stomach for 2 to 3 hours, making you feel extremely bloated. When the body’s enzymes can’t deal with certain substances like raffinose which is a complex sugar, flatulence is triggered. Total time elapsed : 4 hours
Three hours later
A 250ml glass of wine takes the body 3 hours to break down but of course you’ve may have drank more than that. Total time elapsed : 7 hours
Six hours later
It’s crazy to think it takes 6 to 8 hours for your food to pass through the stomach and the small intestine, before it gets to the large intestine. Amino acids are produced from the body digesting meat; these are then absorbed through the small intestine and into the blood. Total time elapsed : 13 hours
24 hours gone by
Your hangover caused by feeling dehydrated from all of the alcohol you have consumed should have eased by now. Your body will finally start to eliminate the undigested food, having absorbed minerals and water, and stored excess fat.
