Food & recipes

Health: How to avoid a food overload

Our top trio of holistic wonder-women show us how to beat the festive binge and avoid the food hangover!

Nigma

Christmas can take its toll on your body but there are some simple steps you can take to minimise the damage from all those late nights and festive indulgences. Here are some supplements to take to keep you firing on all cylinders :

Digestive enzymes
These aid assimilation, prevention of acid,indigestion and putrification. Enzymes are not only the active agents responsible for the digestion of food, but are the catalyst for every major function in the body. Without these enzymes, food would putrefy and rot in our intestines, producing excessive toxins and fat storage.

Liver support
A clogged liver means that toxins hang aroun da lot longer; a clean liver means clean body.Take liver support supplements like milk thistle and shisandra.

Antioxidants
Take a vitamin C supplement that has been‘buffered’ so that it is not irritating to the sensitive gut lining.

Zinc
Take this mineral to stimulate the immune system to be on guard against the foods we eat during Christmas.

Chromium
This helps to keep your blood sugar levels balanced from the over-indulging. Chromium helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels andmay also control cravings for sugar

B vitamin complex
Take this supplement the morning after with food, as alcohol, poor dietary habits, fatigue all depletes the body’s reserves of B vitamins.

Vitamin D
Lack of sunlight at Christmas can affect most people especially those susceptible to season affective disorder. This may be caused by a reduction of vitamin D which is usually synthesised in the skin from sunlight.

Minerals
Take mineral supplements like calcium and magnesium to neutralize the acidic environment caused by alcohol and fatty foods. Alcohol depletes these minerals.

Dr Nigma Talib is a top international naturopathic doctor. Visit:healthydoc.com

Carole

Want to stay bloat-freethis Christmas. There are a few easy steps you can take to beat the bulge, like eating slowly and chewing your food thoroughly. Things like keep active with activities such as doing the dishes, which can burn as much as 100 calories.

Balance your indulgences with healthy eating during the rest of the day. Have a nutritious breakfast such as eggs; studies show they are the best breakfast for keeping you full and preventing you from overeating.

As we age, our bodies’ production of natural digestive enzymes decreases, limiting the breakdown of food during digestion and often causing digestive distress such as gas,bloating and stomach pain. Having a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 30 minutes before meals aids digestion and helps to alkaline the stomach.Apple cider vinegar’s enzymes do not survive the cooking process so be sure to use it raw.

Go for a walk after feasting to get your heart pumping, this will also stimulate your muscles to push digestive waste through.
Carole Caplin is a top fitness and wellbeing coach.

Visit: bowskillclinic.com

Lyndsey

The average person gains 5lb (2kg) which isn’t surprising considering that on Christmas day alone we can tuck into a 7,000 calorie-fest – that’s over double the amount of alories we consume on a normal day. Don’t mistake dehydration for hunger. Drink plenty of water in between meals –it will help prevent bingeing. For every chocolate you eat have a shot – that is a shot of water to help the sugar filter out of the system as soon as possible.Try and stick to good quality high cocoa content treats.

The homeopathic remedy nux vomica30is a great antidote to over-sipping the sherry.Take one tablet before you start and one after you finish last thing at night.

Rehydration drops and a good drainage tonic after the festivities are over are recommended to get back top form. Irecommend Energetix available from health professionals (see my details below).

A new year dance class, zumba or salsa,will pick up your spirits. But make sure you have fun –it’s only once a year!
Lyndsey Booth is a leading homeopath who works across the UK health industry.
Visit:lyndseybooth.hom.me.uk