Spend your time enjoying a meal with your family this Thanksgiving, not in bed waiting for your symptom flare-ups to go away.
A lot of my patients struggle with digestive problems, migraines, fatigue, and other symptoms that get worse when they eat the wrong thing, eat too much, or drink alcohol.
Don’t completely avoid the fun of this holiday season, just be equipped with some tools that will help you feel better after the big meal.
Make sure to eat a lot of fiber
Fiber helps your body digest food, and the more you eat, the more fiber you’ll need. A lot of people feel sick after Thanksgiving dinner because they spent the evening avoiding foods with fiber.
Try to incorporate beans, pumpkin, greens, whole grains, fruits, and veggies into your meal. This will help you process the richer foods you eat so you can enjoy what you want and still feel good afterward.
Eat breakfast and lunch
You might be tempted to skip meals to save room for dinner. This will hurt you more than it will help you.
By skipping regular meals, you’ll throw your stomach out of alignment. By the time you finally do eat, you’ll struggle to digest your food and feel sick to your stomach, get migraines, or feel exhausted.
Regular meals also influence your hormones, and you can throw them out of whack by missing meals. This will cause even more problems or make your existing ones worse.
Enjoy water with your alcohol
Many people enjoy a drink with their holiday meal, but don’t forget to drink water too. Try drinking a glass of water for every glass of alcohol you consume.
This will help dilute the alcohol, keep you hydrated, and take some pressure off your liver. Each of these perks will help you digest your food and prevent a hangover the next day.
Try herbs for soothing
There are a lot of different herbs that soothe your stomach and digestive tract that you can take before, during, or after your meal. Whether you’re trying to prevent a stomachache or get rid of one, herbs can help you feel better.
Some of my favorites to calm your stomach are ginger, peppermint, barley, fennel, and chamomile. Many tea brands feature these herbs as an easy and comforting way to find relief.
Take digestive enzymes or probiotics
These support supplements can help your stomach digest your food properly, easing uncomfortable symptoms and regulating your system.
Stores that sell supplements, like Natural Grocers, are great places to find digestive enzymes and probiotics.
When shopping for a probiotic, make sure to look for something shelf stable if you don’t want to keep it in the fridge. Also look for products with a billion or more cultures to maximize effectiveness.
Acupuncture
Even if you try your best, you might end up with uncomfortable symptoms. Acupuncture can help get rid of your symptoms and bring your body back into balance.
This treatment is designed to find and release blockages in your energy that create problems and cause symptoms. With your body’s vital energy flowing strong, it can improve digestion, ease your nervous system, and balance your hormones.
If you need help feeling better after Thanksgiving, schedule an appointment. We can use acupuncture to get rid of your symptoms and bring balance back to your health.
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