A bloated stomach is usually caused by eating and drinking food and drinks which the body struggles to digest.
This can lead to excess gas and trapped wind, which causes that uncomfortable, bloated feeling.
Overeating can cause problems for the digestive system, as can eating certain types of food.
Stodgy foods like junk food can be hard to digest, as can vegetables like beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage and Christmas favourite Brussels sprouts.
These types of vegetables belong to the cruciferous family, which contain a carbohydrate the human body cannot break down.
So if you are partial to a Brussels sprout or two with your Christmas dinner, you may be likely to experience some tummy woes.
If you do eat a lot during the big day and are left feeling stuffed and bloated, drinking water and lemon could help relieve the symptoms.
The juice in lemons can help soothe a bloated stomach due to its similarity to the acidity in the stomach’s digestive juices.
This means it can help encourage the digestion process, while stimulating metabolism.
Lemons are also a natural diuretic, which means they promote diuresis – the increased production of urine.
This can help flush toxins from the body, reducing bloating and discomfort in the digestive system.
Lemon juice is even more effective when added to water, as water can also help flush toxins from the body.
Hot water can be more soothing for the belly than cold water, so adding lemon to hot water is even better.
Sometimes when eating food that is high in salt, which is found in a lot of Christmas foods like sausages and gravy, the body can hold on to excess water in order to prevent dehydration.
Water retention can also contribute to a feeling of bloating in the tummy.
If bloating is caused by water retention, it may seem contradictory that drinking more water can help reverse the problem but it actually can.
Drinking more water can lessen bloating caused by water retention because keeping hydrated will help flush out excess fluid.
This way the body won’t think it’s dehydrated anymore and won’t hold on to excess water.
Remembering to keep hydrated and drinking something as simple as water with lemon could help to ease a full, bloated stomach after a big day of indulging.
“Get rid of bloating by cutting out fizzy drinks and foods that cause wind. Sit down to eat and take regular exercise,” advises the NHS.