Posted on 12/29/2024 2:52:46 PM PST by nickcarraway
Romania saw a spike in emergency calls over Christmas due to overeating, with nutritionists warning of the health risks of indulgence.
The Christmas festivities, filled with delicious meals, may be over, but their aftermath lingers for some in Romania — and it’s far from pleasant.
Emergency authorities say more than 1,500 people called ambulances during Christmas, with around 50 suffering from severe digestive or heart-related issues.
According to local officials in Bucharest, doctors on ambulances doubled in number during the holidays to give medical care to those in need.
For nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu, the surge in the number of emergency-related issues on Christmas was not surprising.
“There’s also an economic factor,” Alexandrescu explained. “Traditional food has become increasingly expensive, meaning people buy less and avoid throwing leftovers that are still good.”
She added, “This is a positive sign, as it encourages purchasing only what we consume, reducing food waste.”
Santa's parade brings joy and sweets to Romania
Christmas celebration in Romania, a largely orthodox Christian nation, is one of the most cherished holidays with unique festive traditions. Most people observe fasting, confession, and the Holy Communion. The 40-day Nativity fast often begins on 14 November every year.
Nutritionists warn that overeating carries several health risks and advise caution.
"We are talking about culinary education here. Many people who tend to overeat have understood over time that there is plenty of time to eat those dishes,' says Alexandrescu.
Despite the uplifting mood of the season, the end-of-year holiday season can sometimes trigger emergencies. From overindulgence in alcohol to unexpected food reactions, Christmas dinner traditions and New Year celebrations can sometimes take a turn for the worse, according to nutrition experts.
Bake that stuffing in a casserole dish. Leave the bird empty.
As the Klingons say....A Dothraki wedding without at least three deaths is considered a dull affair.
Is there another source for this? Very poorly written article. How can mere overeating cause so much distress in so many? Can’t Alka Seltzer remedy this?
There are 19 million, 19,000,000, residents in Romania.
1500 medical emergency calls doesn’t seem that terrible.
Nanny State article.
After you eat, blood flow to you gastrointestinal tract increases. It’s called post prandial hyperemia. This results in your heart having to supply more blood flow which, if you have a heart condition, can result in chest pain or even a heart attack. If you over eat, it’s worse.
For those of us who thrive on leftovers it’s no big deal. Christmas leftovers, no problem. Christmas 2023, OK, maybe a problem.
Overeating or under-reheating? If you’re ending up in Emergency for gastric problems, isn’t it more likely because food was left out too long during family dinners, or leftovers weren’t reheated properly or some combination thereof?
It’s not funny, but I chuckled—they must have had a great time over there in Romania!
I should know better. I have had gall bladder attacks after a holiday meal on two occasions. No fun. Feels like a heart attack. Glad I finally got it removed. Now I have no excuse to turn down another slice of pie with whipped cream, and I’m wearing years’ worth of them all around my waist.
That is good advice. About 20 years ago, we had a lot of people hospitalized and several deaths from food poisoning here in Maryland from a "stuffed ham" dinner at a church, an annual tradition open to the public. Multiple ladies had filled hams with some concoction and cooked them in their homes, with variable food handling or refrigeration practices.
As a result, there are now new regulations in many counties. At my last church, individuals allowed to cook on the premises had to pass a county-approved food handling class. Now I'm in another county, and our gigantic kitchen is only licensed for refrigeration or warming, no cooking from scratch. Every dish brought in has to be reported to the head woman, and the name of the cook labeled on the buffet table.
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