How to undo the damage if you overate at Thanksgiving
Happy day after Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful holiday spent with loved ones celebrating all the things we have to be thankful for.
Among many other things, I spent Thanksgiving being thankful for being newly married to the love of my life, and for being able to celebrate our marriage in beautiful Africa.
We couldn’t find any turkey and dressing here, so I hope you got to enjoy all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes that make the holiday special -- and ate some for me!
But if I HAD been able to have a traditional holiday feast, I know that I probably would have overindulged and today would be feeling sluggish and bloated, and might be having trouble buttoning my pants.
If you’re feeling that way, too, help has arrived!
Here are 10 things you can do after overindulging to feel better, lose the bloat, and get back on track fast:
1. Drink plenty of water, and start the day with warm lemon water (water, juice of 1 lemon, pinch of Himalayan pink salt).
2. Eat smaller meals than you normally would. After taxing your digestive system with a huge meal full of rich, salty, and sugar-laden foods, your digestive system needs a break!
3. Eat primarily fresh fruits and veggies over the next few days (bonus points if they’re raw), and avoid meat and dairy. The fresh fruits and vegetables will increase your nutrient intake, and laying off the meat and dairy will give your digestive system a break since these foods are hard to digest.
4. Make a special effort to eat these detoxifying foods: dark, leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, turnip greens, etc.), fresh fruit, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower); artichokes, beets, ginger, and garlic.
5. Eat broth-based soups (preferably with little or no meat).
6. Avoid sugar as much as possible.
7. Drink 2 to 3 cups of green or white tea each day.
8. Work up a sweat – go for a run or brisk walk, chop some wood, do an intense cardio workout, or (one of my faves) spend time in a dry sauna if you have access to one. Sweating is a great way to get the toxins out of your body.
9. Lay off the alcohol. Your body doesn't need the extra work of metabolizing the alcohol and removing it from your system. Plus it is high in sugars and is dehydrating.
10. Eat probiotic-rich foods to help your digestion, like kimchi, low-sugar kombucha, or fermented sauerkraut. Or take a probiotic (I use this one.)
Following these tips can help you feel better and get back into a healthy routine. Remember them when Christmas and Hanukkah roll around!
JOIN SUNDAY SOUL CARE
Every Sunday, I’ll send you an Oracle card reading and a message from my soul to yours to inspire and uplift your week. ✨
Photo credit: Element5 Digital on Unsplash