The most important thing to keep in mind when eating at a buffet is the order of food. [Photo=Dining One]

Eating buffet-style can be enjoyable for the mouth, but it often leads to an upset stomach due to overeating. However, eating too little defeats the purpose of visiting a buffet, as you might feel like you haven't gotten your money's worth. Is there a way to enjoy a buffet without feeling overly full or experiencing digestive discomfort?

The most important thing to keep in mind when eating at a buffet is the order of food. Eating uncooked vegetables (salads) first and then moving on to your favorite dishes is beneficial for digestion. This is because raw vegetables contain autodigestive enzymes (food enzymes) that help them digest themselves.

To prevent buffet food from spoiling, eat plenty of raw vegetables

As I always emphasize, health in old age depends on how well you take care of your pancreas. The pancreas secretes digestive juices and enzymes to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It also secretes insulin to supply nutrients to cells and store excess calories in the body. The pancreas performs two essential life-sustaining functions: digestion and blood sugar regulation.

When young, overeating doesn't pose a significant digestive challenge because digestive juices and enzymes are secreted efficiently. However, for the elderly, overeating is akin to asking them to perform strenuous physical labor beyond their capacity.

Imagine asking an elderly person, who is capable of only digging soil with a trowel to plant flowers, to build the foundation of a house with a shovel. They would likely collapse.

Similarly, if you overload the pancreas, which has the capacity to digest only a small amount of food on a small plate, with several plates of food, it will immediately give up and go on strike.

This results in undigested food lingering in the intestines for an extended period, leading to putrefaction. Symptoms like bloating, gas, indigestion, or diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain are all consequences of this situation. In essence, the buffet becomes a site of decay.

All uncooked foods digest themselves

To prevent this, you can utilize the autodigestive enzymes present in raw vegetables. All uncooked foods contain autodigestive enzymes that help them digest themselves. While raw vegetables digest themselves, the pancreas gains the leeway to digest other foods. This effectively halves the burden on the pancreas.

You should also be cautious about eating fruit after a meal. Fruits take only about 20 minutes to digest, thanks to their autodigestive enzymes. However, 'cooked meats' like bulgogi or galbi take three to four hours to digest. What happens if you introduce a large amount of sugary fruit into your stomach while meat is still being digested? It can lead to abnormal fermentation and a buildup of gas in your abdomen.

Indigestion after a meal is often due to not following the correct eating order. Consuming fruits, which are digested quickly, early in the meal or in very small quantities, and eating plenty of raw vegetables and raw fish dishes can reduce the likelihood of indigestion. Conserving your pancreas can also lower the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes.

◆ Director Park Chan-young

Director of Eoseongcho Oriental Medical Clinic in Sadang-dong, Seoul. Doctor of Oriental Medicine from Dongguk University. He sparked a detoxification sensation in Korea by appearing on health programs such as MBN's 'Eomjiui Jwewang' (King of Thumbs). His books include 'Atopic Dermatitis and Acne Healed with Eoseongcho,' 'Seasoning is Medicine,' and 'The Miracle of Detoxification.'