Feel Great this Thanksgiving - One Bite at a Time

Thanksgiving is time for sharing gratitude, celebrating friendships, and (for most people) indulging in large Holiday feasts. Most holiday meals include foods that are more dense and complex than you customarily eat in one sitting. Imagine your normal daily lunch. Now imagine your traditional holiday meal. Notice any difference? Most people will notice a huge difference: Holiday meals offer richer foods, more variety of food, and not-so-stellar food combining, plus a smorgasbord of highly processed desserts.  It's enough to put you in a sugar-induced sleep just thinking about it.

Five Tested Tips for Your Healthier Holidays  

Here are five tips to help you have enough energy after your Thanksgiving Dinner to jump in to your Black Friday gift shopping spree with gusto and enthusiasm.  Or you can simply relax and giggle while you watch the rest of your family 'sleep off' their meals. 

1. Bring digestive enzymes! Eating more food in one sitting than normal often results in bloating, indigestion, tiredness, and gas. Enzymes to the rescue! Enzymes help you digest your food with grace and ease. They reduce bloating, gas, and indigestion and improve nutrient assimilation and absorption. Have 3-5 enzyme capsules with your meal (3 if you are eating all veggies, 5 if you are eating turkey or meats), and another 3 or 4 with dessert.
2. Eat simply and colorfully: Fill your plate with vibrant green salad and lots of fresh veggies. Raw foods have a higher enzyme content than cooked foods. Eat your salad first to give your body a head start with enzymes, making way for smooth digestion.
3. Eat slowly - and chew!  With all the commotion, excitement, and extra people at holiday meals, it is tempting to eat too quickly. This creates favorable conditions for unfavorable conditions such as indigestion, heartburn, gas and bloating - ouch! Here is a very simple tip to help your holiday meal digest with grace and ease: chew your food!  Be present with your meal. Look at each bite of food before it enters your mouth. Taste and experience your food while you are chewing. Chewing also increases your body's own natural enzyme production.
4. Bring your own: Bring something you enjoy eating that is live, raw, full of nutrients and supports digestion. Cultured veggies (sauerkraut), a fresh salad, or fresh sprouts are excellent options. If you are more adventuresome you can make and bring your own raw dessert.
5. Give dessert its deserved spotlight. Instead of having dessert with your meal, give your food time to digest. Have your dessert an hour or two after you eat. In the meantime, visit with your family. Dessert can wait!