(Overeating) 4 Foods That Help Soothe Your Stomach During the Holidays

Many people overeat during the holiday season. Some people, in particular, experience bloating due to excessive consumption of spicy foods. Foods that irritate the stomach lining can also lead to gastrointestinal problems. Let's explore four representative foods that are good for stomach health.

◇Cabbage

Cabbage is a representative stomach health food. Cabbage contains vitamin U, which protects the stomach lining and helps prevent gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. Furthermore, sulforaphane, a component found in cabbage, inhibits the activity of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that causes stomach cancer. Indeed, research has shown that cabbage inhibits stomach cancer. A research team from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Pusan ​​National University administered cabbage juice to cancer cells to test its antacid and anti-cancer effects. The results confirmed a 42% inhibition of stomach cancer cell growth. Cabbage stems tend to rot before the leaves, so it's best to cut off the stems and store them in plastic bags.

◇No

Radishes are rich in catalase, an enzyme that promotes digestion. They also contain diastase, an enzyme that breaks down starch. Radishes are very low in calories, with only 21 kcal per 100g, and are composed of over 80% water, helping to manage bloating. For a healthy stomach, it's best to wash radishes thoroughly and eat them raw, with the skin on. This is because amylase, which is abundant in the skin, is easily destroyed by heat.

◇Ginger

Ginger is also beneficial for stomach health. Gingerol and shogaol, which give ginger its pungent flavor, have a thermogenic effect, stimulate gastric juice secretion, and aid digestion. In fact, a study conducted by Chang Gung University in the United States found that when patients with indigestion consumed ginger and then consumed 500 mL of soup an hour later, their stomachs became more active and digestion was faster than when they did not consume ginger. Furthermore, ginger's antibacterial and antioxidant properties help prevent bacterial growth and food poisoning.

◇Broccoli