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By Andrea Bartels CNP NNCP RNT
Registered Nutritional Therapist
20 Dec 2018
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How to Support Your Digestion During the Holidays
- Take at least 5 minutes to relax before eating your meal. Stress hormones shut down the digestive process, so take a few deep breaths and think about something positive before digging in.
- Chew your food until it is a paste before swallowing. This really lightens the load on your digestive system. It also gives you a focus on what it is you are eating, savouring the flavours and textures. Tasting is vital for triggering the stomach secretions necessary for digestion. So make sure you like what you are eating!
- Sip room-temperature water or hot water with meals, never cold. Include some juice from a fresh-squeezed lemon to prepare the stomach for food. At restaurants, ask for hot water with lemon instead of ice water, which impairs digestion. Avoid carbonated beverages if you suffer from gas and bloating.
- Take at least 10 minutes to relax after eating before rushing off to your next activity. Allow 1 hour after a meal before sleeping, exercising, lifting, shoveling or other physical activity.
- Eat less, especially at supper time. By the day’s end, our digestive capacity is at its weakest, so be sure not to over-eat. Try grazing—eating a mini-meal every 2-3 waking hours.
- Avoid sugary, store-bought baked desserts, hors d’oeuvres and fried foods as these contribute to systemic acidity, depleting the alkaline buffers needed to prevent heartburn.
Of course, following all of the above eating tips can be a challenge during the festive season. Make sure you’ve got AlkaPure pH on hand for extra digestive support.
Happy eating, and Happy Holidays!
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