Christmas time...Mistletoe and Wine!

Christmas is a time for friends, family, laughter and of course EXTREME gluttony! With the cold weather outside and the warm spread of food inside it is difficult not to resist that extra mince pie or glass of mulled wine. To help your body deal with the indulgences of Christmas try out some of my natural remedies to help kick your digestive system back into first gear:

Caffeine-free teas can reduce an uncomfortable, bloated system. They are warm and soothing making them they perfect remedy on a cold winter’s morning. Try:
* Peppermint - Used for centuries to ease the digestive system, peppermint helps ease the bloat caused by trapped wind and soothes indigestion.

* Chamomile - With anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties, the calming effects of this tea also help relieve stress, which is often linked to digestive problems.

* Hot water and lemon- a simple drink to alleviate digestive distress, support liver detoxification, normalize digestive juices, and reduce intestinal bloating. Lemon activates the liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move any roughage that stays behind in the intestines. Mix half of a juiced lemon with eight ounces of warm water. Drink upon waking on an empty stomach.

* Hot water and fresh ginger slices – Ginger is known for its anti-nausea properties making it a great ‘morning after the night before’ drink to soothe a food and drink hangover!

Green juices are packed with nutrition to enable the release of stored toxins throughout the system. Green juices can cleanse your digestive system, helping to move things along while providing an extra dose of readily available nutrients. Start with vegetables that are gentle on your system like celery and cucumbers, adding a little apple to sweeten things up. Introduce spinach and kale for a super powered nutritional green juice!

Natural enzymes- Pineapples contain the digestive enzyme bromelain, and papayas contain papain. These natural enzymes support the digestive system in breaking down and absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat. Consuming the fresh juice from these fruits can help relieve gas, upset stomach and occasional constipation and diarrhea.

Aloe Vera – This adaptogenic wonder plant will reduce inflammation in your gut and help to repair and soothe your digestive lining. The gelatinous properties of the Aloe Vera gel allow it to bind to the toxins in your gut and remove them from your system. These toxins are usually kept safe in your system as your body surrounds them with a layer of fat, so eliminating toxins with the gel means less fat storage! Ideal!

Spices- As well as adding ginger to your tea, try adding it to a fresh vegetable stir fry too. Not only does it add a great flavor but will also stimulate digestion by speeding up the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. Widely used all over the world for many digestive disturbances, ginger has been found to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices, making it a great remedy for overeating.

Naturally fermented- Naturally high in probiotics, foods such as milk kefir provide beneficial enzymes that increase the digestibility of any food. This enhances lactic acid which in turn promotes the growth of healthy flora throughout the intestines as well as preventing the growth of harmful bacteria and increasing nutrient absorption.

Now I’m not encouraging over-indulgence over the Christmas period but I pride myself on being a REALIST nutritionist who can fit healthy living around YOUR lifestyle. So, try to resist those excessive temptations but do treat yourself to the odd mince pie or smoked salmon breakfast and just make sure you KEEP ACTIVE during the festive period. Now get out there, have fun and don’t neglect your sensitive digestive system this Christmas.