Health Hacks For The Festive Season

It’s a time for connecting with our loved ones and indulging in some delicious foods, but it also can be stressful trying to fit in all the different visits, get all your work done in time for a few days break, trying your hardest to please everyone but putting your own needs far down on the list and then indulging in what might be delicious foods, but often make us feel uncomfortable.

Here are my top healthy hacks that I share with my clients to help ease them through the festivities without feeling like they have to miss out.

There is food that is good for our health and there is food that is good for our souls. Sharing a meal with loved ones is an important part of celebrating at this time of year. A lot of my clients worry about keeping up with their Treatment Plans during the festivities and I think it is good to focus on what you can do and then let go of what is stressful to achieve, then relax and enjoy yourself! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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If you know that a particular food is really going to aggravate your digestion then do avoid it. It’s really not worth spoiling your day. But feeling like we are bound by rules and restricting ourselves when we are finding it hard to resist is another stress on the system. And I am all about avoiding what stresses our systems. A few days of indulgence is just a few days. A moment in time. ⠀⠀

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Of course easing up on the amount you put on your plate, what you put in your glass and asking yourself do you actually really need to eat the whole box of chocolates in one go will help! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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When it comes to health, it is about what we do MOST of the time. Not what we do on a few days and I definitely think we are allowed a few days off each year; Christmas, birthdays, holidays and other celebrations shouldn't count, right?! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

So love, laugh and be present because it’s a whole year before we get to do this again. ⠀⠀

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Alkalise, alkalise, alkalise.

This is such an acidic time of year. Processed foods, sugar, dairy, meat, gluten, alcohol, fizzy drinks, caffeine, crisps, salted nuts etc are all acidic. As well as stress, lack of sleep and dehydration. Too much acidity long term is a stress on the body. Our blood should naturally be an alkaline pH and our body will rebalance acidity by utilising alkaline minerals which depletes our stores, leading to essential mineral deficiencies. Inflammation also increases which in the long term can lead to disease. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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To improve our health, we would benefit from consuming more alkaline foods which are not only nutrient dense, but will help to rebalance our pH. Eating plenty of green vegetables is the easiest way, but also things like quinoa, green tea, almonds, linseeds, chia seeds, melon, lemon, limes, papaya, mangoes, grapefruit, dates, figs, olive oil and garlic are all alkaline. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You may find adding some extra alkalising tips at this time of year is also really helpful. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Alkalise with green juices, smoothies, adding spirulina or chlorella for a potent shot of essential minerals and a natural detoxifier. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Keep hydrated- Add lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda to your water for an easy alkalising drink.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Try and avoid too many dried foods like crisps, salted nuts, crackers etc as these are very dehydrating.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• A favourite of mine is a green morning smoothie or juice with spirulina. This is an algae which is super rich in nutrients, a good source of restorative protein and antioxidants to help repair the body and a wonderful alkaliser. You can also take spirulina or chlorella as a supplement, making it an easy addition to take away with you if you are visiting family.

  Acid reflux or heart burn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy to ease heartburn. Add 1tsp-1tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water to help neutralise stomach acid. It also helps with blood sugar balance as well.

• Sodium bicarbonate (bicarb), also known as baking soda, is a natural antacid and is fantastic for heartburn. Add 1 tsp of bicarb to a cup. Half fill the cup with boiled water and then add room temperature water until the cup is full. Sip it throughout the day. Only drink one to two cups per day and stop when your heartburn is under control.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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  Hangover support⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

  If you’re feeling worse for wear after overindulging in the festive spirits then making yourself a fresh juice will be a wonderful restorative message to the body and will help to alkalise any acidity. Choose asparagus which has enzymes that help to breakdown any residue of alcohol and ease any toxic overload to the liver. I like to juice mine with lemon, ginger, apple and some spinach.

• NuxVomica homeopathic remedy is also a top tip.

• Wilder Botanics also have a herbal remedy called Hangover Drops. It is a blend of “ Organic Milk thistle and Burdock root to cleanse and detoxify the body whilst Oat flowering tops bring rebalance and harmony again.”

• A lovely Ayurvedic remedy is add 1 tsp of lime juice to a glass of water, with 1/2 tsp of sugar and a pinch of salt and 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
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  Christmas Bloat⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

  If you suffer with bloating, stomach cramps or acidity after the big feast can spoil the rest of the day.

• You may find digestive enzymes will support digesting those rich foods and hopefully ease off the pressure on your belt buckle! Try BioCare Polyzyme (you can use my practitioner discount code P7913 to get 10% off)

• Fennel tea or fennel tincture in water is a natural aid to support your own production of digestive enzymes. I like Indigo Herbs Fennel Tincture.

• My favourite tea to enjoy after a heavy meal is an Ayurvedic remedy called CCF tea. It is a blend of coriander, cumin and fennel seeds and lots of my clients have also reported back how brilliant it is at easing bloating. Just mix 1tsp of each into a teapot or cafetière, add hot water and allow to brew for 5 minutes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• doTerra Zengest is a fabulous essential oil blend that very quickly helps to ease the discomfort of bloating and colic pain. (Let’s just say it helps to release trapped wind!). My go- to doTerra girl is @nature_divinedelights.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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  Keep Hydrated

  It’s so easy to quench your thirst with something sparkly or alcoholic and forget to drink some water! Your liver and kidneys will be so grateful if you make sure your glass isn’t always full of some festive tipple but drink plenty of water or hydrating drinks too! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Drink water with slices of orange and a sprinkle of cinnamon to help balance blood sugar levels. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

• Kombucha and water kefir are awesome sparkly alcohol-free alternatives which are good for your gut health as well. ⠀

• A great tea for this time of year YogiTea Stomach Ease which is a delicious blend of fennel, liquorice, peppermint, cardamom, coriander and ginger to support healthy digestion.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Coconut water has a lot of electrolytes so great for a dehydrated system.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Don't forget to still try and drink some fresh juices and smoothies - make them green with green leaves and spirulina for extra alkalising benefits and chuck in some celery or beetroot if you can too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• Try a virtuous mulled festive tea… 1tsp dried hibiscus leaves, 1/2 tsp dried or fresh ginger, 1/4tsp - 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, 1 star anise. Brew in hot water for 3-4 mins. You can even add slices of orange if you want! Hibiscus flowers are rich in vitamin c and contain polyphenols which support our good bacteria. Ginger, star anise and fennel all improve digestion, ease bloating, cramps and reduce nausea. It’s a therapeutic combination that is rich in antioxidants, anti fungal, anti bacterial and antispasmodic. The star anise has a mildly sedative effect making it a lovely tea to drink before bed to aid a restful sleep. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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  Pause⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

  As we start to wind down for Christmas do take a little time to ground your energy, get out of your head and enjoy the moment. Breathe in positive vital energy and let go of the ‘needs’ and ‘musts’ and ‘expectations’. And the friction of everyone’s anxious energy. Be at peace. And know that the next few days are about finding joy amongst being with your loved ones. Relaxing, restoring, laughing, loving and nurturing. Breathe in the joy of the moment. Just be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀