Eat, Drink & Be Merry – Beat Christmas Over-Indulgence

The office Christmas party.  The get together with friends.  The family gatherings. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve!  There can be no doubt that this time of year can be, for many, a time of over-indulgence.  Too much food, and – sometimes – too much drink!  

In this blog, I’m sharing my favourite products to stock up on – to help prevent the after effects of that over-indulgence – Digestive Enzymes & Milk Thistle.

WHY DO DIGESTIVE ENZYMES HELP?

For those of us who often end up eating more than we had planned – and certainly more than our stomach is used to – a Digestive Enzyme can be the ideal way to prevent, and deal with, digestive discomfort after eating.

Digestive enzyme tablets provide all the enzymes our body needs to properly break down and digest food. 

When we over-eat, our ability to produce enough digestive enzymes can be compromised. This can lead to that same food sitting around in our stomach, leaving us feeling like we’ve ‘swallowed a brick’. This in turn causes an increase in gas production, leading to those bloating, wind and indigestion symptoms many of us know all too well. 

Simply taking 1 or 2 digestive enzymes with, or after, a big meal should help to prevent that uncomfortable feeling many people experience after a Christmas dinner.

WHY MILK THISTLE?

It’s the question on everyone’s lips over Christmas – what hangover cures work? 

Most of us know it is helpful to drink water before going to bed.  Water helps to rehydrate the system, and could help to prevent that banging headache which can follow a few glasses of wine.   

What many people don’t know, however, is that it will be even more helpful if we take a Milk Thistle supplement with that drink of water.  Milk Thistle is a traditional herbal remedy which is known to help support liver function.  Boosting liver function after drinking alcohol can help to clear the drink out of the system more quickly, further reducing the risk of the dreaded hangover.

But what if you go to bed without the water or the milk thistle? 

Well, have no fear. Taking Milk Thistle the next morning has been reported by many to help relieve symptoms quickly.  I always suggest that this is done in combination with a rehydration sachet or drink.  These are usually designed to be used by sports people, to prevent a loss of electrolytes, but taken with a hangover they can also help clear that head!

Written by Jenny Logan DNMed (Jenny is a nutritional therapist who has worked with clients in health food stores and private clinics for over 20 years).