Christmas: diseases that appear after family meals

Many fatty foods cause an increase in certain diseases each year during the holidays, posing a risk to people whose health is fragile.

According to Véronique Liesse, dietician-nutritionist, the holiday meals of the end of the year cause bad cholesterol, indigestion, hypertension as well as sleep disorders: ” Indeed, whether it is diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia (elevated cholesterol), these pathologies tend to worsen during the Christmas period. »She indicates.

According to a Danish study by Swedeheart published in the British Medical Journal in 2018, the risk of having a heart attack increases sharply on Christmas Eve, with a peak of 37% compared to normal around 10 p.m. More generally, heart attacks are up 15%. The probability of dying increases by 20% on January 1.

During this holiday season, bad cholesterol levels would increase up to 6 times higher than the rest of the year according to the Danish study. This is partly due to the excess of food and alcohol during meals. According to the researchers: “ These are all hyperglycemic foods that raise bad cholesterol levels », Such as aperitif cakes, cold meats, foie gras, meats in sauce or stuffed and Christmas logs.

An opinion shared by Véronique Liesse: “ On 100% of your cholesterol, you have 25% which comes directly from food of animal origin (meat, egg, cheese…) and 75% that you manufacture, specified. In fact, it is from carbohydrates and lipids (sugars and fats) that you make it. These are all hyperglycemic foods like those [à index glycémique élevé ou riches en glucides] that raise bad cholesterol levels. So, fatally, during the holidays, it explodes because of your overeating “. High cholesterol, which causes clogging and narrowing of the arteries, increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Véronique Liesse indicates that ” in the short term, the first risk will be indigestion, if you continue to overindulge during the holidays ”, Especially animal fats, alcohol and chocolate which are difficult to digest. ” The liver is a filter, responsible for eliminating the toxins that we ingest. And when it is overwhelmed, it will no longer be able to perform its function. The body will then make sure to eliminate toxins faster, through vomiting and diarrhea. It’s the liver crisis »Explains Raphaël Gruman, nutritionist.

” Alcohol and heavy meals will really affect sleep According to the nutritionist, disrupting the quality of sleep. The body, having trouble digesting the excess, will produce and spend more energy to eliminate them, thus affecting your sleep. In addition, alcohol promotes snoring or sleep apnea.

A large amount of salt, present in cold meats, cheese or bread, can lead to hypertension, heart attack, diabetes and certain cancers. “Excess salt stiffens the arteries and thus promotes high blood pressure, one of the main risk factors for myocardial infarction and Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)” explains Raphaël Gruman. The French Federation of Cardiology specifies that reducing salt consumption to 6g per day would prevent 35,000 people from dying from stroke or cardiovascular disease. Salt, transformed into sodium in the body, turns into water. This causes an increase in the blood volume that circulates in the arteries and increases blood pressure. A formation of blood clots can then intervene and promote a heart attack. So remember to balance the dose of salt.

In reasonable quantities, holiday meals are not dangerous, especially if you watch your diet the rest of the year. The important thing is to have fun with the family, while eating a balanced diet.