Supporting Your Health through the Holidays
Balance Your Blood Sugar
Stable blood sugar can help curb the sweet addictions and reduce overindulging. The simple way to do it: fill up on fibre (eat veggies with each meal), 20-30g protein/meal, eat consistently - 3-4 meals/day with 3-5 hours in between.
Gut Support
Late nights, large meals, sugar treats, and alcohol can all wreak havoc on our gut. We need a healthy gut for immunity, stress relief, mental health, hormone function…basically everythinggg that makes us healthy. While limiting the above gut ‘wreckers’ would be the first step, here are a few other ways to support your gut throughout the holidays. Fill up on fibre to feed your good gut bacteria, add extra ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp and pumpkin to your meals. Sip on homemade or high-quality bone broth for gut nourishment. Try out the recipe below for gut-loving stewed apples.
Love your Liver
Your liver has 100’s of different functions in the body, and it is essential to maintain health and well-being. An overburdened liver can lead to more stress and anxiety, as well as a whole host of health issues. Now I’m not saying you can’t enjoy a drink or two, but when you do, make sure you’re supporting your liver with cruciferous veggies (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc) and sulphur-rich foods (garlic, onions, eggs), anddd get enough sleep…
Prioritize Sleep
Not to be a bummer, but nothing is better for your health than a good night’s slumber. Your immune system, brain, liver and digestive tract all need that time to detox and repair! While late nights often come alongside the holidays, prioritizing your rest is imperative to your health! Make a bedtime routine, get your eyes in the morning sun, stick with your sleep-wake cycle (as much as you can).
Shift your Nervous System
Shifting into the resting state is not only going to benefit your physical body, improve digestion, lower inflammation, etc, you’ll also find yourself more present, happier, and able to enjoy the festivities! Intentionally breathe each day to shift your nervous system (even if it’s only 5 minutes). If you don’t yet have the breathwork membership, you can get the full year right now for $222 and start breathing today.
Focus on how you feel when you eat
How you bring food into your body dictates how your body utilizes the nutrients. This isn’t your ticket to start eating all the junk but rather an awareness that there’s more to the picture. The ENERGY of how you eat matters - If you’re having fun and the food feels goooodd, your body will metabolize and receive the food in a completely different way than if you were eating out of a place of emotional distress or fear. Feel into your body when you’re around food this holiday season. What do you notice? How do you feel while and after you eat?
And Remember…
If eating some holiday cookies feels like the most joyful experience, it won’t take away from your health. It’s less about being perfect and more about nourishing your body to the best of your abilities in every moment. But remember, after the season is over and those sweet cravings are sticking around, it's not because you’re weak to the cravings, it's because your body has gotten on the sugar addict craze (a two-week break off sugar is often enough to curb those inner sugar addicts) Check out this IG reel I posted on our inner sugar addicts hehe
