The holidays are over and it’s a new year and a new you! Chances are you are feeling in need of a detox after all the holiday indulgences. Here are a few ways to gently help your body and digestive system get back on track.
Drink warm lemon in the morning. Drinking warm lemon water in the morning will kick-start your system and aid in regular elimination. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C which not only has immune-boosting benefits but also helps your body to produce collagen for healthy, plump skin. Sipping on lemon water will help to hydrate your body and actually has an alkalizing effect on the body. The sour taste of lemons will help to increase bile flow which will improve fat metabolism. Adding a fresh slice of ginger is also a great way to kick-start your system!
Drink Green Tea or White Tea. Everybody has heard at some point in their lives that green tea is good for you because it is! Researchers believe that the catechins found in green tea help to prevent the breakdown of collagen, speed up metabolism, and help to burn fat. It is best to sip on your green or white tea throughout the day, rather than before or immediately after a meal as this might inhibit proper nutrient absorption due to the tannins and caffeine. White tea is my favorite because it is the least processed and contains the highest amounts of antioxidants. Drinking white tea regularly can help to prevent premature skin aging due to its high amounts of polyphenols (antioxidant) which neutralizes free radicals.
Drink Water. You have probably been hearing this one your entire life. Water helps to cleanse the whole body and also keeps your skin looking great by keeping it hydrated and plump! Avoid drinking cold water as this will only weaken your digestive fire and may make your digestive system sluggish. Room temperature, or sipping warm water is the most beneficial for your digestive system. Drink water 20 minutes before meals to get your digestive organs going, but avoid drinking water after your meals for about an hour as this can dilute your stomach acids and enzymes. If you are thirsty, just take small sips to keep yourself hydrated and avoid disrupting digestion.
Focus on Nourishing Foods. It’s important for your digestive system and your skin to be consuming nourishing foods year-round, but even more so after the many tasty indulgences over the holidays. Load up on vegetables, fruit, high-quality proteins, and gut-nourishing bone broth. Avoid foods containing refined sugars, processed foods, processed deli meat, and deep-fried foods, and try to limit your wheat consumption. If you need your wheat, try eating sourdough bread as this bread has gone through a fermentation process and the gluten is slightly broken down making it easier to digest – plus it’s so delicious! You can also try incorporating sprouted grains since the sprouting process is also easier to digest. The foods to avoid that are listed above can cause a lot of havoc on your digestive system which is often reflected on your skin in some form. This can include all types of acne, rosacea, rashes, other skin irritations and etc. Not only that but your digestive system and gut health are directly related to every disease within the body. Heal your gut, heal your life!
Intermittent fasting gives your digestive system much-needed rest, so your body can heal and burn fat! Now don’t get scared by the word fasting as this can be done with bone broth, so you won’t feel deprived. Fasting gives your body time to use up the glycogen stored in your liver so that your body can start burning the unwanted stored fat! Intermittent fasting is not advised for children, or pregnant/breastfeeding mothers. If you are on insulin please check with your doctor. There are a few different methods of intermittent fasting, but since I am a huge fan of eating I will tell you my favorite method. Basically, you eat during a 7-8 hour window (ex. noon-8 pm) and then you will fast for 16 hours. During these 16 hours, you will also be sleeping so it’s not quite as difficult as it sounds! For this method, you would be skipping breakfast and then eating your first meal of the day at about noon. During the morning hours, you don’t want your body to be producing insulin, so you can drink water, and small amounts of coffee, and tea (ideally without anything added), or you can also drink bone broth. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated. This type of fasting can be done daily if desired!
Bone Broth Heals Your Gut. Long-term consumption of bone broth is a great way to heal and restore your gut, reduce inflammation, and nourish your entire body. Bone broth contains collagen and amino acids which are the building blocks for a healthy gut, healthy body, beautiful skin, hair, and nails.
Take Probiotics Daily. Probiotics help to restore your intestinal microbial balance. Taking probiotics every day will help to improve your digestion which will also lead to better nutrient absorption. Taking good care of your gut health will greatly enhance your life in all areas, will reduce inflammation in your entire body, reduce leaky gut syndrome, and will also help to diminish food intolerances. When your gut bacteria are imbalanced this can cause an array of health problems. Anything that weakens your digestive system can affect your gut flora. Foods that weren’t meant for humans to eat, such as processed foods, will weaken the digestive system over time as well as eating foods that are difficult to digest, stress, dehydration and even drinking cold water.
Foods that contain probiotics include Fermented dairy products such as yogurt (homemade preferably), kefir and kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented pickles, and miso. If you are purchasing rather than making, always read ingredient labels. Probiotics also need pre-biotics to feed the bacteria in the gut. These include garlic, onion, banana, dandelion, Jerusalem artichoke, burdock, chicory and jicama, and psyllium husk.
Yoga & Stretching. Yoga is not only a great way to help you maintain great posture and build lean muscle, but it also helps to detox your body and relaxes your mind. Yoga helps your body to eliminate impurities and allows for oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to flow to your organs.
Twisting yoga poses, Back Bends, Forward Bends, and Inverting the body all help with getting good blood flow to your organs, and lymph drainage, as well as soothing your digestive system and your nervous system.
Take Salt Baths. Salt baths help your body to draw out toxins, while also replenishing your body with minerals. They will also help to ease sore muscles and will give you a great night’s sleep. Epsom salts are helpful in pulling out toxins while replenishing magnesium. They are absorbed through the skin to help relieve inflammation, tired and sore muscles. Magnesium is also helpful for nerve and muscle health as well as the regulation of enzymes within the body. Pink Himalayan Salts are known to be one of the purest salts on Earth. Over 80 minerals are contained within these beautiful salts. Helpful in relieving muscle cramps, aches, and pains. Like Epsom, these mineral-rich salts also help to detoxify the body while adding an abundance of beneficial minerals to the body. Find our Bath Salt Soaks here. Always drink water when you get out. Avoid physical activity afterward and be sure to rest; before bed is recommended!
Much Love, Health & Happiness, Alexis ❤