to prevent burpy afternoons

You Eat on the Run

If you wolf down lunch in mere minutes because of work deadlines, you may have a burpy afternoon ahead of you.

Chewing too fast and drinking through a straw can cause you to swallow too much air. You release most of this air, which contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, from the stomach by burping. What's left makes its way through the digestive tract until it is eventually expelled through the other end—as gas.

Fix it: An hour lunch break may be unheard of these days, but do give yourself enough time to chew properly, without gigantic bites. Put down your fork while you munch to slow down, if necessary. Also, don't eat when you're anxious, upset, or stressed—it can interfere with digestion.

On hectic days where you know you'll eat quickly, take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each) three times daily. Peppermint kills bacteria that cause bloating and relaxes gastrointestinal muscles for smoother digestion.