Its finally the holiday season! This means beautiful decorations, fun times with family, delicious food, aaaaaand more delicious food. As we eat heavier meals and more desserts and pies, our digestion can be knocked off course. Large holiday meals filled with sugar, dairy, gluten, and alcohol can wreak havoc on a normally healthy digestive system. Unfortunately for those with digestion issues year round, this is nothing new. Fortunately, for those who are generally okay but struggle to manage their eating habits and the natural consequences during the holiday season, this is for you. There are many ways to subtly support your gut during the holidays to avoid digestion disruptions!
5 Tips to Support Digestion:
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Drink. Water.
We cannot stress this enough! It is a lot harder to break down and digest foods if you are dehydrated. If you are adequately hydrated, water will help break down foods and move your digestion along, avoiding possible constipation. It is generally thought that you should consume 0.5-1.0 ounces of water for every 1 pound you weigh. So, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should optimally be drinking 75-150 ounces of water, preferably on the higher end.
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Take a probiotic.
Start taking a probiotic now and continue taking it through this entire holiday season (and consider taking it year round for optimal digestion). By taking a probiotic, you are adding to the healthy bacteria in your gut to maintain or reestablish a homeostasis in your digestive system. When these bacteria are out of balance, you may experience a lowered immune system and digestive issues like constipation, nausea, and diarrhea.
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Get some movement!
A great way to aide digestion is by moving around! This does not have to be a heavy workout. Something as light as a casual walk or easy yoga can help start the digestive process and get things moving in your gut. Most people find their routine jumbled around during the holidays between shorter days, travel, and holiday activities. Try to stick to your normal routine or aim for some light movement during the day.
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Take a digestive enzyme or bitters.
Digestive bitters and enzymes are a great option when you know you are going to need the extra digestive help. Bitters will help debloat and digest, while enzymes will help break down foods and even potentially protect you from foods you are susceptible to. Some of our favorites are these urban moonshine digestive bitters, these super papaya enzymes, or these enzymedica digest enzymes that can come specifically made for gluten or dairy sensitivities.
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Drink herbal teas.
Teas are so easy to make and provide tangible digestive benefits. Drinking teas like ginger, peppermint, chamomile, licorice, fennel, and lemon can provide the digestive benefits of these herbs. This may help avoid nausea, bloating, and constipation.
Stressing about your digestion can make it worse (think brain-gut connection). Knowing you are taking precautions to be comfortable can help ease your mind and your digestion! We hope these tips can help you balance the fun of the holidays with comfortable and healthy digestion!
*These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and should not replace a physician’s advice. Consult your doctor before beginning new supplements.*
