3 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Gut Through the Holidays

by ToeSox Ambassador & Nutritional Therapist Alyssa Hustedt

The holidays are here!!! Full of friends, family, parties, activities, and all of the hustle and bustle of the season. This season should be abundantly enjoyed without compromising the health of our bodies and our guts.

Try these 3 tips to support your digestive system through this holiday season.

1. Focus on nutrient-dense foods like veggies, well-sourced proteins and healthy fats.

Limit snacking, sugar, and alcohol as much as possible. Avoid eating “on the run”. Do your best to take small periods of time in the day to sit down, take several deep breaths, and focus on your food. This simple task switches the body’s autonomic nervous system from “fight or flight” mode into “rest and digest.”

2. Chew your food well because (if you didn’t already know)

Your stomach does not have teeth, but it DOES have stomach acid. Stomach acid is a GOOD thing! It helps to further digest your food and stimulate other digestive enzymes and processes. Lack of stomach acid can result from stress, nutrient deficiency (particularly zinc), an overgrowth of h. Pylori, and/or taking stomach acid suppressants like PPIs. (Heartburn that happens an hour or so after a meal can be an indicator of low stomach acid.)

3. Support your gut microbiome!

The holidays are a great time to keep up with your probiotics (although not all probiotics are created equal so it is helpful to do some homework before purchasing) in addition to eating prebiotic fibers and fermented foods daily. Keeping up with your workouts will also support your gut microbiome as well as support your body’s own detoxification processes. Want to dive further into your digestive issues? Schedule a free 15 min consult with Alyssa through her website.