{"id":686,"date":"2025-11-25T00:22:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/?p=686"},"modified":"2025-11-25T00:22:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:22:47","slug":"big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large holiday meals are a cherished tradition, but research shows they can also be dangerous. From cardiovascular emergencies to foodborne illness, the risks of overindulgence are real &#8211; and often underestimated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Heart Attacks Surge During the Holidays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scientific studies confirm that <strong>cardiac deaths increase by 5\u201315% between Thanksgiving and New Year\u2019s Day<\/strong>. The American Heart Association reports that <strong>December 25 is the deadliest day of the year for heart attacks<\/strong>, followed by December 26 and January 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A study of over 53 million deaths found <strong>a 4.65% spike in cardiac mortality during Christmas and New Year\u2019s<\/strong> compared to expected seasonal averages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research shows <strong>Christmas Eve carries a 37% greater risk of heart attack<\/strong>, with a 20% increase on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A typical Thanksgiving dinner can exceed <strong>5,000 calories<\/strong>, causing triglyceride levels to surge and inflammation that can trigger cardiac events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Holiday Heart Syndrome<\/strong>, first described in 1978, refers to arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation) triggered by binge drinking. It accounts for <strong>35\u201362% of alcohol-related atrial fibrillation cases in emergency departments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Big Meals Stress the Body<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several physiological mechanisms explain the danger:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Blood pressure spikes<\/strong>: Sodium-heavy foods cause fluid retention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cholesterol surges<\/strong>: Fat-rich meals elevate triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Postprandial lipemia<\/strong>: After eating, blood thickens with fats, increasing clot risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insulin stress<\/strong>: Carbohydrate-heavy meals can destabilize blood sugar in diabetics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combined with stress, cold weather, and delayed medical care, these factors create a \u201cperfect storm\u201d for cardiovascular emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Health Risks of Holiday Feasting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Health Risk<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Data &amp; Mechanism<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Heart Attack &amp; Arrhythmia<\/td><td>5\u201315% spike in cardiac events; Holiday Heart Syndrome from alcohol<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Indigestion &amp; Acid Reflux<\/td><td>Large portions slow digestion, raising risk of heartburn and bloating<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Foodborne Illness<\/td><td><strong>48 million Americans (1 in 6) sick annually<\/strong>, 3,000 deaths<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Diabetes Complications<\/td><td>Excess carbs cause hyperglycemia; disrupted routines worsen control<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Weight Gain<\/td><td>Studies show most adults gain <strong>0.5\u20131 kg during holidays<\/strong>, often retained<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hypertension<\/td><td>Sodium-rich gravies and stuffing elevate blood pressure<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group unauthenticated invisible has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-34f216e9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group cta-background has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-aee558b6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:30px;background-color:#fff6eb;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cta-background-02.webp&apos;);background-position:100% 100%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:contain;background-attachment:scroll;\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-529ce3b4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-e1a2b4d20c009cbe1ac01729b645a8a1\">Experiencing Side Effects? <br>Let\u2019s Rethink Your Meds.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore treatment options that may work better for your body &#8211; with fewer side effects and lower costs. It\u2019s fast, free, and tailored to you. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/intro-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn More \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Food Safety Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanksgiving meals pose unique risks for foodborne illness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The CDC estimates <strong>48 million illnesses, 53,300 hospitalizations, and 931 deaths annually<\/strong> from foodborne pathogens.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turkey is a leading culprit, often contaminated with <strong>Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Clostridium perfringens<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outbreaks of <strong>Clostridium perfringens spike in November and December<\/strong>, often linked to improperly cooled leftovers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A USDA study found <strong>97% of people fail to wash hands properly during food preparation<\/strong>, increasing contamination risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Stay Safe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evidence-based strategies can reduce risk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Portion control<\/strong>: Avoid meals exceeding 3,000\u20135,000 calories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limit alcohol<\/strong>: Prevent Holiday Heart Syndrome by moderating intake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food safety<\/strong>: Cook turkey to 165\u00b0F, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, and avoid rinsing raw poultry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stay active<\/strong>: Even a short walk after dinner improves digestion and blood sugar control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recognize symptoms<\/strong>: Chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea should never be dismissed as \u201cjust indigestion.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Holiday meals symbolize joy, but <strong>statistics show they also coincide with the deadliest days of the year for heart attacks<\/strong>. Overeating, alcohol, stress, and unsafe food practices combine to create real health hazards. With moderation, vigilance, and safe cooking practices, families can enjoy the holidays without becoming part of these sobering statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group unauthenticated invisible has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-34f216e9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group cta-background has-custom-off-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-aee558b6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:30px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cta-background-01.webp&apos;);background-position:100% 100%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:contain;background-attachment:scroll;\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bb05258c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-b6fe6b9c1e90c3ca0e3d22a4a0e21d9e\">Better Treatment, Lower Cost &#8211; No Catch.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find safer, more effective medications with fewer side effects &#8211; often for less money. It\u2019s fast, free, and personalized. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/intro-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn More \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References (16)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>American Heart Association \u2013 <em>Heart attack deaths spike during the winter holidays<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.heart.org\/local-news\/heart-attack-deaths-spike-during-the-winter-holidays\">https:\/\/newsroom.heart.org\/local-news\/heart-attack-deaths-spike-during-the-winter-holidays<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UNC Health Southeastern \u2013 <em>Do Heart Attacks Spike During the Holidays?<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unchealthsoutheastern.org\/about-us\/news\/2024\/do-heart-attacks-spike-during-the-holidays-understanding-the-ris\/\">https:\/\/www.unchealthsoutheastern.org\/about-us\/news\/2024\/do-heart-attacks-spike-during-the-holidays-understanding-the-ris\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Royal Examiner \u2013 <em>Holiday Heart Attacks: Why Cardiac Risks Spike on Christmas and New Year\u2019s<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/royalexaminer.com\/holiday-heart-attacks-why-cardiac-risks-spike-on-christmas-and-new-years\/\">https:\/\/royalexaminer.com\/holiday-heart-attacks-why-cardiac-risks-spike-on-christmas-and-new-years\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>KTVZ \/ Stacker Science \u2013 <em>Why heart attacks spike during Thanksgiving, and what you can do about it<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/ktvz.com\/stacker-science\/2025\/11\/19\/why-heart-attacks-spike-during-thanksgiving-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/\">https:\/\/ktvz.com\/stacker-science\/2025\/11\/19\/why-heart-attacks-spike-during-thanksgiving-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MedicalXpress \u2013 <em>Holiday heart syndrome: What to know before you drink too much this season<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-11-holiday-heart-syndrome-season.html\"> https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-11-holiday-heart-syndrome-season.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WRIC \u2013 <em>Cardiologist urges alcohol moderation to avoid \u2018Holiday Heart Syndrome\u2019 this Thanksgiving<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wric.com\/news\/local-news\/chesterfield-county\/cardiologist-urges-alcohol-moderation-to-avoid-holiday-heart-syndrome-this-thanksgiving\/\">https:\/\/www.wric.com\/news\/local-news\/chesterfield-county\/cardiologist-urges-alcohol-moderation-to-avoid-holiday-heart-syndrome-this-thanksgiving\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conexiant \u2013 <em>Holiday Habits Tied to AF Risks<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/conexiant.com\/cardiology\/articles\/holiday-habits-tied-to-af-risks\/\">https:\/\/conexiant.com\/cardiology\/articles\/holiday-habits-tied-to-af-risks\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Europe PMC \u2013 <em>Holiday Heart Syndrome \u2013 StatPearls<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/europepmc.org\/books\/n\/statpearls\/article-22963\/\">https:\/\/europepmc.org\/books\/n\/statpearls\/article-22963\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medscape \u2013 <em>Holiday Heart Syndrome: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/emedicine.medscape.com\/article\/155050-overview\">https:\/\/emedicine.medscape.com\/article\/155050-overview<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CDC \u2013 <em>Estimates: Burden of Foodborne Illness in the United States<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/food-safety\/php\/data-research\/foodborne-illness-burden\/index.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/food-safety\/php\/data-research\/foodborne-illness-burden\/index.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food Safety News \u2013 <em>Tips for avoiding foodborne illness with Thanksgiving meals<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodsafetynews.com\/2025\/11\/tips-for-avoiding-foodborne-illness-with-thanksgiving-meals-thawing-your-turkey-can-take-a-few-days\/\">https:\/\/www.foodsafetynews.com\/2025\/11\/tips-for-avoiding-foodborne-illness-with-thanksgiving-meals-thawing-your-turkey-can-take-a-few-days\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NBC Chicago \u2013 <em>As Thanksgiving nears, Illinois officials share reminder on preventing foodborne illness<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/local\/as-thanksgiving-nears-illinois-officials-share-reminder-on-preventing-foodborne-illness\/3855298\/\">https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/local\/as-thanksgiving-nears-illinois-officials-share-reminder-on-preventing-foodborne-illness\/3855298\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Katie Couric Media \u2013 <em>How to Prevent Food Poisoning on Thanksgiving and Holidays<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/katiecouric.com\/health\/nutrition\/how-to-prevent-food-poisoning-when-cooking-thanksgiving\/\">https:\/\/katiecouric.com\/health\/nutrition\/how-to-prevent-food-poisoning-when-cooking-thanksgiving\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NewsNation \u2013 <em>How many calories are in the average Thanksgiving dinner?<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/health\/thanksgiving-dinner-food-calories\/\">https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/health\/thanksgiving-dinner-food-calories\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>EatThis \u2013 <em>Here\u2019s How Many Calories Are in Your Thanksgiving Dinner<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatthis.com\/thanksgiving-dinner-calories\/\">https:\/\/www.eatthis.com\/thanksgiving-dinner-calories\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CalorieHealthy \u2013 <em>How Many Calories Are In A Typical Thanksgiving Dinner<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/caloriehealthy.com\/how-many-calories-does-a-normal-thanksgiving-meal-contain.html\">https:\/\/caloriehealthy.com\/how-many-calories-does-a-normal-thanksgiving-meal-contain.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Large holiday meals are a cherished tradition, but research shows they can also be dangerous. From cardiovascular emergencies to foodborne illness, the risks of overindulgence are real &#8211; and often underestimated. Heart Attacks Surge During the Holidays Scientific studies confirm that cardiac deaths increase by 5\u201315% between Thanksgiving and New Year\u2019s Day. The American Heart [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[421,414,415,413,417,419,412,416,418,420],"class_list":["post-686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seasonal","tag-cardiovascular-events-holidays","tag-diabetes-holiday-eating","tag-foodborne-illness-thanksgiving","tag-holiday-food-safety","tag-holiday-heart-syndrome","tag-holiday-meals-health-risks","tag-holiday-weight-gain","tag-overeating-risks","tag-postprandial-lipemia","tag-thanksgiving-heart-attack"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Get a Second Opinion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/getasecondopinion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"G2O\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"G2O\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"G2O\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9fbb863e981c8982fb301d0644843b20\"},\"headline\":\"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":781,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"cardiovascular events holidays\",\"diabetes holiday eating\",\"foodborne illness Thanksgiving\",\"holiday food safety\",\"holiday heart syndrome\",\"holiday meals health risks\",\"holiday weight gain\",\"overeating risks\",\"postprandial lipemia\",\"Thanksgiving heart attack\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Seasonal\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/\",\"name\":\"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"Header image (1536\u00d71024) showing a warm, festive holiday dinner spread\u2014roast turkey on a platter, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and a wine glass\u2014set against a dark textured table. A semi\u2011transparent dark olive banner is centered with bold white title text BIG HOLIDAY MEALS AND HIDDEN HEALTH RISKS; a subtle heart\u2011monitor line overlays the background. All food elements are positioned away from the banner so the title remains fully readable. Style: clean, professional, slightly painterly.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Insights\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Health Info\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/health-info\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Seasonal\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/health-info\\\/seasonal\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Get a Second Opinion\",\"description\":\"Insights\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Get a Second Opinion\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/G2O-logo-full.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/G2O-logo-full.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":129,\"caption\":\"Get a Second Opinion\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/getasecondopinion\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/getasecondopinion\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9fbb863e981c8982fb301d0644843b20\",\"name\":\"G2O\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"G2O\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion","description":"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion","og_description":"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/","og_site_name":"Get a Second Opinion","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/getasecondopinion","article_published_time":"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"G2O","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"G2O","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/"},"author":{"name":"G2O","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/9fbb863e981c8982fb301d0644843b20"},"headline":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks","datePublished":"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/"},"wordCount":781,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg","keywords":["cardiovascular events holidays","diabetes holiday eating","foodborne illness Thanksgiving","holiday food safety","holiday heart syndrome","holiday meals health risks","holiday weight gain","overeating risks","postprandial lipemia","Thanksgiving heart attack"],"articleSection":["Seasonal"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/","url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/","name":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks - Get a Second Opinion","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-25T08:22:45+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-25T08:22:47+00:00","description":"How large holiday meals raise risks - heart attacks, foodborne illness, diabetes complications - and practical tips to stay safe.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Big-Holiday-Meals.jpg","width":1536,"height":1024,"caption":"Header image (1536\u00d71024) showing a warm, festive holiday dinner spread\u2014roast turkey on a platter, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and a wine glass\u2014set against a dark textured table. A semi\u2011transparent dark olive banner is centered with bold white title text BIG HOLIDAY MEALS AND HIDDEN HEALTH RISKS; a subtle heart\u2011monitor line overlays the background. All food elements are positioned away from the banner so the title remains fully readable. Style: clean, professional, slightly painterly."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/health-info\/seasonal\/big-holiday-meals-and-hidden-health-risks\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Insights","item":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Health Info","item":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/category\/health-info\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Seasonal","item":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/category\/health-info\/seasonal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Big Holiday Meals and Hidden Health Risks"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/","name":"Get a Second Opinion","description":"Insights","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#organization","name":"Get a Second Opinion","url":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/G2O-logo-full.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/G2O-logo-full.png","width":1000,"height":129,"caption":"Get a Second Opinion"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/getasecondopinion","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/getasecondopinion"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/9fbb863e981c8982fb301d0644843b20","name":"G2O","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/21b03bf2b185bfb0dd4d13c2214225de3355abca7b52e424ee73d37b573644a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"G2O"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=686"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":687,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/686\/revisions\/687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getasecondopinion.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}