BATTLING THE SEASONAL BULGE
Natural remedies to stay bloat-free during Christmas
As sure as fruitcake, food comas, and distant relatives asking you inappropriate questions, you can expect added poundage every holiday season. This year, instead of bracing yourself for the inevitable, it’s time to take charge. Here are some quick and natural tips to outsmart the bloat this Christmas. You’ll have to come up with your own snappy comebacks for those relatives, though.
Kickstart your day with lemon water
A cup of warm water and the juice of half a lemon first thing in the morning can cleanse your system, battle salt retention, and make you feel lighter in general. We swear, it’s not just that fresh, sunshiny scent. Tip: it also aids digestion after an especially heavy meal.
Fiber is your friend
Oats, whole-grain cereal, and fiber-rich fruits lower cholesterol levels and help move things along when you’re feeling heavy and constipated; just make sure to match it with lots of H2O. A psyllium drink works, too.
Fresh is best
It’s hard to monitor what we eat when we’re constantly stuffing our faces at Christmas parties or grabbing fast food between holiday errands. This season, be more mindful of what you’re putting in your body: steer clear of junk food, soda, refined carbs, and salty stuff. Goodbye, preservative-laden canned goods. Triggers differ from person to person, so try to notice what brings on those icky, bloated feels. Is it gluten, dairy, artificial sweeteners, your favorite Vienna sausage-and- pan de sal merienda? As much as possible, stick to fresh, unprocessed, homecooked options, and chew your food slowly and carefully.
A daily dose of ACV
Two tablespoons of the humble apple cider vinegar in a glass of (preferably warm) water literally keeps the doctor away. This popular (and perpetually sold out) folk remedy reputedly works wonders on digestion, remedies gas and bloating problems, and even works as a great conditioner. Good luck scoring it at your local supermarket. Can’t stand the sour taste? Add a teaspoon of raw honey to make this concoction more palatable.
Ginger tea
All those café lattes consumed during the height of reunion season may actually be the bloating culprit. Replace them with a soothing cup of caffeine-free ginger tea (freshly grated ginger is best), which helps soothe the tummy, ease flatulence, and counter an expanding puson.