Don’t Let Digestive Troubles Disrupt Your Holidays

With the holiday season in full swing, you don’t want anything to prevent you from getting to those holiday parties--especially not “stomach” issues.  Why is holiday time especially troublesome for digestive upset?

• Travel
• Schedule disruption
• Eating high fat foods
• Dehydration (due to more caffeine and alcohol use)

All of these factors can disrupt our digestive system, and even occasional constipation, bloating, gas, or diarrhea can even cause people to cancel plans.

Watch my recent segment on The Daily Buzz national TV show for tips to prevent digestive upset during the holidays.

Boost fiber.  

Balance high fat foods with high fiber choices.  Boosting your fiber intake helps to “keep things moving.”  Fat slows down the digestive system, but fiber helps to create bulk and eliminate on a regular basis.  

• Start your day with whole grains.  My new favorite?  KIND Healthy Grains.  They are gluten free and made from a blend of five 100% whole grains—Amaranth, Quinoa, Gluten Free Oats, Millet, and Buckwheat, not to mention 6 delicious flavors.  Put them on yogurt, snack on the clusters dry, or pour milk over the top like cereal.
• Eat more Fruits and Veggies!  Even though it’s the middle of the holiday season, it’s still important to get in your fruits and veggies.  One of my favorite fruits this time of the year are fresh Medjool dates.  Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates are known as the “Fruit of the Kings” and are luscious and taste just like caramel, but yet they have fiber and are packed in nutrition.   The dates are naturally sweet with no added sugar, a good source of fiber and loaded in antioxidants.  Enjoy them in a Medjool Date and Apple Salad or other recipe.
• Eat healthy dips made from beans instead of creamy dips--like hummus or black bean dip.

Take a daily probiotic. 

Your colon is the center of your digestive tract, and a major player in immunity as well. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the good bacteria in your colon that help maintain digestive balance and defend against occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating.  Phillips Colon Health is the only leading probiotic supplement containing all three of the most studied strains of bacteria.  Take it daily and year-round to maintain good digestive health.

Drink water! 

Make sure that if you’re drinking more alcohol or hitting the caffeine harder than usual during the holiday season that you’re keeping yourself hydrated. Hydration plays a big role in digestion and keeping you energized!

Keep a schedule. 

Your body likes routine, so try to follow your normal schedule of eating and sleeping as much as possible.  Make sure you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snacks in between. Remember that small snacks between meals prevent you from eating too much at your next meal.

With just a few simple changes, you can feel great--inside and out--this holiday season!