Food & Digestion – 5 Healthy Holiday Habits

by | Nov 8, 2010 | Dental Health

It’s the six month sugar binge for most American’s – October through April is packed with holiday meals and gatherings – which means lots of food, and possibly lots of digestion problems as well. From bloating, gas, cramping, and heartburn – these unruly tyrants can put a damper on the festivities.

Here are a few tips to get you through the holidays.

1. Get your protein and fiber first. Eat whole foods first, skipping processed foods whenever you can. Processed foods take longer to digest and are generally harder on your digestive system. Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fiber.

2. Cut back on sugars. It’s hard to resist all of the sweep temptations during the holidays, but if you can, you’ll be the happiest person at the party. Sweets, however tasty, often cause bacteria and yeast build up – which then leads to digestion problems.

3.  Eat slowly. Can you remember eating that whole helping or did you just swallow it whole? Many people are used to eating quickly in our society, but it’s a bad habit for digestion. Slowing down always your body to do its work, the slower you eat, the more your body can digest the food.

4. Eat until you are no longer hungry – not full. Remember mom asking you if were full? Unfortunately, this was bad advice. In reality, you should eat until you are no longer hungry. Eating until you are full generally means you’ve eaten too much. Eat a portion of your food, then wait a few minutes and see how you feel. If you are still hungry, keep eating. If not, walk away.

5. Know your triggers. Many people have particular foods that bother them and trigger digestion issues – whether red peppers, orange juice, or some other food, get to know your body and stop the issues before they hit your  mouth.