There is a difference between Holiday, I ate too much, bloat and constipation and regular constipation.

Regular constipation is defined as having bowel movements less than three times a week. Holiday constipation is: you ate too much Thanksgiving turkey and fixings and your digestive system has slowed down to process more food than it is used to processing at any single time. Holiday constipation is non-denominational and will attack at Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Christmas and the Company Holiday party.

Over-eating at this time of year is a tradition. Stress eating is also common because of a combination of factors unique to holiday gatherings of close family and friends. It’s a mix of:

• I don’t believe I sat in two hours of traffic for what should be a 45-minute drive.
• What do you mean, my flight has been delayed, again?
• I don’t need to hear my sister rattle on about her rich husband, while I’m with Stupid.
• Someone should do an intervention and get these two a divorce.
• I know, Mom.
• I know I never lived up to your expectations, Dad.
• Is Uncle Bob drunk again?
• What do you mean, her cooking is better than mine?
• Why do I feel like I’m ten years old every time I come home?
• Oh God, I went to school with Mom/Dad’s new squeeze.
• Gee, your kids made the honor roll again, and it’s ugly older sibling…
• Yes, I know your son/daughter is a doctor!

Our lawyer once told me, “Family and friends are the other F words.” Don’t get me wrong - we love our families and friends. And, most of the time, we bring out the very best in each other. But mix turkey, alcohol, family and friends, and sometimes it brings out the worst in all of us.

So, how do we avoid suffering through constipation and bloat, the day after?

After last year, I won’t tell you restrict your food intake. Last year, I was dieting, got much drunker than I usually do, and told everyone exactly what I thought of them. Only your relatives and really close friends will let you show up the next day and not hate you. Why? They’ve all done it, and last year, it just happened to be my turn. Dieting also seems to bring out the worst in most people, so it’s not really a smart thing to do when you’re visiting the folks for what is essentially, a Holiday mega-meal.

But I digress; you avoid bloating and constipation after Holiday binging by doing one of two simple things. Drink a cup of senna tea before you go to bed that night, or drink pineapple juice all during the day of the holiday. (See warnings!)

Senna has been commonly used as a laxative for over 3,500 years and you can find it as an active ingredient in products such as Fletcher's Castoria, Senokot, and Ex-Lax Gentle Nature.

I know from personal experience that pineapple juice will rush things through your system. If you feel like passing wind the day after drinking pineapple juice – don’t, - unless you’re wearing an adult diaper. Obviously, if you drink pineapple juice every day, it will not affect you this way. But, if you haven’t had pineapple juice for some time, the effects will be quite dramatic. Pineapple juice is also high in manganese, needed to protect bones from osteoporosis.

Warnings:

1. Eating disorders and laxative abuse are major problems for teenage girls. If you suspect your teenager has an eating disorder, or has been abusing laxatives for weight loss, see your doctor or medical practitioner for advice.
2. Senna is prepared in different strengths and formulas by different manufacturers. Read the directions on steeping time for senna tea or if you choose to ingest an herbal senna product, please read the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations. Do not exceed them. Senna is a very effective herbal laxative.
3. Large doses of pineapple juice ingested by a pregnant woman may cause miscarriage, uterine contractions, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, very heavy menstrual periods. Unripe pineapple is poisonous, causing excessive diarrhea. Thank you to Babysnark.com for this information.

So let’s eat, drink and be merry.
Enjoy family and friends.
Find the time to be cheery.
Too soon, all things must end.

Here's to a settled stomach, no bloating or constipation, and the presence of our loved ones...no matter how crazy they make us.

Marsha Gellerman is the editor of Colon Cleansing Faqs.com and Colonics-Online.com.