Six Ways to Support Digestion After Your Thanksgiving Feast
A post-Thanksgiving guide from Physio Collective
We’ve all been there: you’ve just finished your second (or third) helping of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. You're happy, full... and maybe just a little too full. While Thanksgiving is all about enjoying good food and company, that heavy, bloated feeling afterwards? Not quite as festive.
The good news? There are some simple, natural ways to support digestion and feel better post-feast — many of which align with what we do at Physio Collective!
1. Go for a Gentle Walk
One of the best things you can do after a big meal is to move your body. A short, relaxed walk (even just 10–15 minutes) helps stimulate digestion, reduce bloating, and regulate blood sugar.
Walking after meals encourages gentle movement of food through your digestive system — plus, it’s a great way to connect with family post-dinner.
2. Try Abdominal Massage
Gentle abdominal massage can help reduce bloating, stimulate peristalsis (the movement of your intestines), and ease discomfort.
Use slow, clockwise motions around your abdomen to follow the natural direction of your colon. Even better? Book a therapeutic massage focused on digestive support.
3. Stay Hydrated (But Skip the Ice Water)
Drinking water helps digestion, but ice-cold drinks can sometimes slow it down. Warm water or herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, or chamomile can soothe your stomach and support digestion naturally.
Pro Tip: Sip slowly—don't chug!
4. Try Some Light Stretching
Certain stretches can help relieve abdominal pressure and stimulate your digestive system.
Gentle yoga poses, such as child’s pose and cat cow, can ease post-meal discomfort.
5. Get Adjusted
Spinal misalignments — especially in the mid-back and lumbar spine — can affect the nerves that communicate with your digestive organs.
Regular adjustments may help improve nerve flow to the digestive tract and reduce tension in the body after big meals.
6. Breathe Deeply
Stress and overeating both impact digestion. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest and digest” state.
How-to: Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly. Inhale deeply through your nose, expanding your belly, then exhale slowly. Repeat for 3–5 minutes.
🍂 Need a Post-Holiday Reset?
If you're feeling stiff, bloated, or sluggish after the holiday weekend, our team at Physio Collective is here to help. Whether it’s:
A massage to ease tension and support digestion
A physio or kin session to get moving again
A chiro adjustment to restore balance and alignment
We’ll help you feel like yourself again — just in time to tackle the rest of fall.
📞 Book your post-Thanksgiving appointment today and give your body a little gratitude of its own.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Physio Collective!
