Survive the Holidays

The holidays are great because I love spending time with my family and friends. There’s nothing like hearing the laughter of my cousins and catching up with my aunts and uncles.  Let’s not forget the delicious foods that show up on the Thanksgiving dinner table – candied yams, roasted root vegetables, and my all-time favorite – stuffing.

While all of these foods are often pleasurable to our tastebuds, they can often send our digestive system into a sluggish state.  With all the different types of food groups and beverages that we consume over the holidays — often all at once — our bodies often feel tired and off-track after such a big meal because all the body is using a large chink of energy to metabolize all that yummy.  Here are some ways to enjoy all the deliciousness of Thanksgiving while preserving your energy and feeling great afterwards:

1)    Drink Water. Try to only drink water during these huge holiday dinners. Water keeps the body naturally energized and helps to flush all impurities out.  It also keeps all our vital organs lubricated and therefore operating properly.

2)    Chew Food Thoroughly. Digestion starts in the mouth, so if you are swallowing whole pieces of food, you may find yourself feeling bloated and with stomach-aches after stuffing your face. Chewing your food thoroughly aids in digesting the food in the initial stages.  This is also a good habit, as it will help you listen to your body and not overeat.

3)    Take a Walk or Stretch. Try to take a walk or do some stretching in between servings of food or after dinner.  Both of these activities help to get blood circulating throughout your body and therefore keeping you from feeling sluggish.  Stretching helps to detox and awaken the internal organs.

4)    Load up on Vegetables. The more colorful your plate looks, the BETTER. Load up on the vegetables.  If your family is not big vegetable eaters, then volunteer to make something.  Vegetables will provide fiber to help flush your system naturally.  Colorful vegetables like beets, butternut squash, tomatoes also provide healthy antioxidants.

5)    Wait 15 minutes before you decide to get seconds. Hanging out and letting the body digest its food will allow your body time to see if it really does want more food.  You may be surprised that after 15 minutes you feel completely satisfied and decide to pass on another serving.

These tips should help you get past holiday season with little problem. You can apply these tips for your everyday living because they are simple and easy and can make a huge difference in how you feel and keeping your body healthy.

The Lardass Hogan Barfarama -”Stand By Me” (1986).

© 2009 – 2010, Shirley Johnson. All rights reserved by Sub Urban Media Group.