Nutritional guidance
There are certain characteristics associated with holidays:
Large portions – we tend to overeat. Rich foods – lots of sugar and fat Lack of fiber – not enough veggies eaten Holiday stress – Yes! Ways to help – short and sweet: 1. Make trade-offs. 2. Compensate. If you know that you'll be eating a lot of fatty food at holiday parties, compensate by healthy eating at lunch. High-fiber vegetables and grains will help keep your GI tract working normally 3. Eat consciously 4. Eat slowly 5. Limit alcohol. On its own, alcohol can irritate the GI tract and trigger heartburn. 6. Move - try to keep up your regular exercise plan during the holidays Supplements and Herbs that will help: Probiotic supplements, which add healthy bacteria to the digestive tract, can be especially helpful. These friendly bacteria actually digest sugars for their own fuel, so they are a great antidote when we eat too many sweets. Probiotics are also found in cultured/fermented foods, such as yogurt and kimchi. There are also many herbs and supplements that help. Chamomile, ginger and mint tea soothe the stomach and improve digestion. Medicinal mushrooms, particularly maitake, support digestion can also help control glucose, as well as boost the immune system. And don’t forget digestive enzyme supplements, with a combination such as Enzymedica’s Digest or Digest Gold. For too little acid – use Betaine HCL. Certain herbs known as “bitters” have a rich history of traditional use for gastric health, categorized for their bitter flavor and digestive benefits. Bitters include herbs such as dandelion leaf and root, milk thistle, chamomile, rue, yarrow and many others. The essential oils and compounds that produce the bitter flavor help to stimulate digestive enzymes and bile production, aiding in the digestion of fats, proteins and rich foods. Plan ahead and stay conscious! Happy Holidays!!
0 Comments
|
Herbs and ThingsHave tried most of what I write about in these articles. Archives
June 2018
Categories
|