Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Thanksgiving…what’s not to love? Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie…how can you not love a holiday focused on food…and LOVE! Not just love for food, but also for all the people in your life, and the many blessings that have come to you and yours!

However, if you don’t watch it, indigestion can soon follow all that love and happy eating!

To help prevent post-holiday indigestion:

• Practice mindfulness as you eat. Enjoy and savor every bite – taste the juiciness of the turkey; the creaminess of the mashed potatoes, and the sweetness of the pumpkin pie – taste the love that went into the food.
• Remember: you can always get more. Start small so you have room to try everything. Pay attention when you are full, and take breaks as needed. You can always go up for seconds and thirds throughout the day/evening.
• Be with the people you are with. This holiday is about being with those you love. Talk to those around you; use your phone to enhance the moment, not to ignore those who are there in-person. Take pictures of the event; play games using your phone or not using your phonelive in the moment.
• Stay hydrated. Balance alcoholic beverages with water. If you are hosting, set out room temperature water with slices of lemon (this will help with digestion).

If post-holiday indigestion still hits you, there are herbal formulas that can help.  

• Bao He Wan helps the body's digestive system break down meats, grains, and fats to keep the food moving through the digestive tract properly. After taking this, you'll feel good enough to get out for a healthy, post-Thanksgiving walk (I strongly recommend this). If you’re interested in trying this, email me (atran@pointsofwellness.net).
• Zypan improves your digestion by supporting your gastrointestinal system and provides enzymatic support for protein digestion.
• Acupressure also helps with digestion. Apply pressure in the spot shown in the picture below (about 3-fingers width below the wrist). This point will help relieve nausea, an upset stomach, motion sickness, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches.



• Also, rubbing your tummy clock-wise for about 5 minutes after eating will also help.


In addition, there are teas and beverages that also help when you aren’t feeling so good after a big meal.

• Hot Ginger Tea is excellent for soothing stomachaches and aiding digestion.
Ingredients:
▪ About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
▪ 2 cups water
Instructions:
▪ First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
▪ Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. 
▪ Remove from heat and add honey to taste if you like it sweeter.

• Ginger Limeade
Ingredients
▪ 1.5 cups of fresh lime juice (about 10 -12 limes)
▪ 3 oz. fresh ginger, roughly chopped
▪ 3 tbsp water
▪ 1 cup of sugar
▪ 1 cup of water
▪ Pinch of salt
▪ 3 cups of sparkling water, club soda or plain water to dilute
Instructions:
▪ Place the sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat to dissolve the sugar.Bring to a simmer. Once all the sugar has dissolved and the syrup starts to boil, set it aside to cool. (You can also make a honey syrup byheating equal parts honey and water in a saucepan until the honey melts into the water.)
▪ Place the fresh ginger and 3 tbsp water in a mini processor, and pulse until well blended and pureed.
• Strain the ginger juice through a sieve, pressing down on the pulp to get the most out of the ginger.
• Set aside ¼ cup of this ginger juice.
• Alternatively, if you have a juicer, juice enough ginger to get 3 tbsp of pure ginger juice.
▪ Mix the ginger and salt with the lime juice. Add up to 1 - 1.5 cups of sugar syrup to sweeten the ginger lime juice to taste.
▪ Pour into a clean bottle/jar and chill.

Finally, I can always help with indigestion as well. Give me a call!  I’ll have you feeling better well before the Christmas season. J


Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the feast before you and the people next to you!

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