New Year without stomach trouble: a gastroenterologist’s advice

Tengrinews.kz – New Year celebrations mean family visits, gatherings with friends, endless toasts and multi-day feasts. Not everyone’s digestive system can handle such a “food marathon”. A TengriHealth correspondent spoke with gastroenterologist Professor Bakhytzhan Bimbetov about how to celebrate the New Year without harming your health — and avoid a hospital visit.
Hidden diagnoses and risks
According to Professor Bakhytzhan Bimbetov, the number of patients seeking medical help due to overeating rises by 20–30 percent during the holiday period compared to regular days.

“People have developed the idea that you must eat a lot on New Year’s Eve. That’s the wrong approach,” the specialist said. “As a result, we see an increase in flare-ups of gastrointestinal and liver diseases during the holidays.”

Bimbetov noted that hospitals often admit people who were previously unaware of underlying conditions. Many do not undergo regular check-ups, and during the holidays, overeating combined with excessive alcohol consumption triggers exacerbations. This is often when gallstones or liver problems are first diagnosed.

“With liver diseases, a person may live a normal life without suspecting any issue. Then overeating becomes the trigger. Such cases are quite common,” he added.

Any excessive food intake combined with alcohol, Bimbetov emphasized, can worsen chronic pancreatitis, chronic cholecystitis or hepatitis, as well as cause peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel diseases. These diagnoses are among the most frequent reasons for hospitalization during the holidays.
There is no single “dangerous” product, the expert stressed.

“Everyone has their own dietary preferences shaped by taste, habits or national traditions. It’s better to eat food your body is genetically accustomed to,” the doctor said.

No gastronomic miracles
Bimbetov advises against strict diets or fasting before the holidays — a common practice for some people. After fasting, the body demands more food than usual, making things worse.

“You should always eat in moderation. And on New Year’s Eve, remember: this is your stomach, not someone else’s. It makes no allowances — neither for healthy people nor for those with gastritis or other conditions. Don’t expect a gastronomic miracle,” he warned.

The doctor recommends drinking a glass of cold water 15–20 minutes before a meal, especially if the festive table includes a lot of meat. Unsweetened fruit drinks and freshly squeezed juices are also suitable.
When it comes to food, vegetables and natural products should be prioritized. They help create a feeling of fullness and reduce the risk of overeating.

“It’s best to avoid complex salads and dishes with many ingredients, as they are difficult to digest. You should also limit sweets and baked goods,” Bimbetov said.

He also advises avoiding salty foods such as herring, canned and pickled vegetables, Korean-style carrots, adjika and other spicy sauces.

“Portions should be moderate and correspond to a single meal. Breaks between meals should be at least two hours,” the expert noted.

Alcohol only worsens the situation, as it increases appetite and dulls the sense of fullness.
Is there a safe amount of alcohol?
This question remains widely debated. Scientists agree that any amount of ethanol is harmful to health. The problem is that once a person starts drinking, it can be difficult to stop. Still, one can refer to recommended consumption limits.
Bimbetov outlined general guidelines for three common alcoholic beverages — vodka, wine and beer — which differ for men and women.
Vodka:

Men: 50–80 ml
Women: 25–30 ml

Wine:

Men: 200–250 ml
Women: 100–150 ml

Beer:

Men: up to 500 ml
Women: up to 330 ml

These amounts are general guidelines and are not specific to holidays.
Food and alcohol combinations
The doctor urges particular caution with fatty and fried foods, sweets and industrially produced cream desserts. These are hard to digest and place a heavy burden on the pancreas and liver.
Mayonnaise-based salads pose a separate risk, especially when eaten after the holidays. According to Bimbetov, they are an ideal environment for infections.

“The shelf life of dressed salads is no more than 24 hours,” he noted, adding that reluctance to throw away holiday leftovers is a common cause of food poisoning.

If you overeat: what to do
Move more
Dancing, walking and active games help digestion. Taking breaks after each meal reduces the risk of complications.
Digestive enzymes
Researchers agree that enzyme preparations have little effect if taken after overeating. In exceptional cases, the doctor допускает their use as a supportive measure when no other options remain. It’s important to remember that medications with names ending in “-al” should not be used in liver diseases, as they contain bile acids and increase the load on liver cells.
When overeating, the stomach, pancreas and liver suffer first, working two to three times harder than usual. That’s why the gastroenterologist’s main advice remains simple and unchanged: moderation is key.
About the expert: Bakhytzhan Bimbetov is a professor and chief gastroenterologist at the hospital of the Medical Center of the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan. He oversees the hospital’s gastroenterology and hepatology services.