Great question u/PeanutSalsa !

In short, heavy foods can include many hidden ingredients that can make us feel uncomfortable after eating.

For example, many places you might order takeout from probably use cheap oils to cook their food. Commonly soybean oil, sesame oil, and canola oil. These oils are filled with linoleic acid — a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid  — which can cause inflammation in the body.

Additionally, heavy foods normally mean fatty foods. Fat in general requires several steps before it can be broken down in the digestive tract, such as enzymes in saliva, acid in the stomach, and bile. Additionally, different types of fat can impact the speed of contractions occurring along the digestive tract leading to both diarrhea and constipation depending on whether or not contractions are sped up (diarrhea) or slowed down (constipation, bloating…).

Hope this helps!

LC