Post-Dragon Boat Festival Fullness: Nutritionist Explains Zongzi's Digestive Burden

Many people experience lingering fullness and a sudden weight increase after indulging in zongzi, a popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival. However, a nutritionist clarifies that these sensations are typically normal bodily responses to processing a "high-burden meal," rather than immediate fat gain.

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Yesterday I ate one zongzi, why is my stomach still so full today?

Zongzi's main ingredient, glutinous rice, is a type of resistant starch that, combined with a high fat content, takes longer to digest. The perceived weight gain is often due to the combined weight of the food and retained water, not an increase in body fat.

Furthermore, the high sodium levels found in common zongzi additions like salted egg yolks, braised pork, and dipping sauces can cause the body to retain water. This leads to common symptoms such as puffy faces, swollen limbs, and a bloated stomach.

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My weight suddenly increased, did I get fat in an instant?!

After consuming such a meal, the body enters a "digestion priority mode." The digestive system requires significant energy, leading to increased blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. This can result in feelings of sleepiness, decreased attention, and general fatigue.

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You didn't eat badly, you just ate a meal that requires more time to digest.

To help the body recover, nutritionists recommend increasing water intake to aid in flushing out excess sodium and water. Returning to a lighter diet with more vegetables and moderate portions of staple foods like white rice or sweet potato is advised. The focus should be on reducing the body's burden rather than strict dieting, allowing the digestive system to return to normal function.

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The point is not dieting, but 'reducing the body's burden'.