Year after year with winter upon us, we are inundated with talk of the “Flu Season” and now COVID and all the people getting sick. Often the correlation is not made connecting poor eating habits with our health but clinically, we begin to see more sniffles and symptoms show up starting with Halloween and people losing themselves in candy eating. Then we move into Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year’s celebration…food, food and more food plus alcohol. Before you know it, you’ve consumed enough sugar for 12 people (in all of its forms - breads, cookies, pies, pastas, candy, etc), can’t fit as well into your clothing, feel older and achy in your joints/body and then try to dig deep to find motivation to get yourself out of that hole and back to optimal health after the New Year.
Sound familiar? The sugar and breads, dairy and corn increase inflammation wreaking havoc on our systems and in the process can decrease the function of your immune system creating a lot of symptoms and making your body more vulnerable to getting sick.
So…what do you do? Our immune system is there to support us especially when we take time to support it! Don’t fret…Here are 10 Tips, Tricks and Recipes to get you through the autumn/winter time with more ease and grace and ultimately be a healthier YOU!
Halloween:
1) It is done! Throw away or donate the candy…no hesitation…bye bye candy. STOP eating it. It sits there tempting you to eat it and is so not worth it! Next year consider purchasing pencils, spider rings, and other goodies that will be good to give away year after year without any temptation.
2) After trick or treating, for both you and your kids, choose 5-10 pieces of candy to enjoy and donate the rest in exchange for a $25 gift card to Amazon, Target or a favorite toy.
Thanksgiving, Hanukah + Christmas:
3) With your meals, always integrate some raw veggies with all the fats and sugars that are likely to be consumed. They contain naturally occurring enzymes that will help you digest your meal a bit better. Plus they have water content in them to make you feel more full so you will tend to eat less of the other foods.
4) Taking Digestive Enzyme supplements, to me, are a must to get through any meal, especially one that is large with multiple dishes and courses. Help your body help itself so you can break down the food more efficiently. Food coma is way less likely to happen when you take enzymes! We have a bunch to choose from in the Be Optimal Store.
RECIPE IDEAS:
5) Mashed Potatoes? —> Try Mashed Cauliflower. Steam cauliflower and then put in blender or food processor with a bit of grass-fed butter, pressed garlic, sea salt and a dash of unsweetened almond milk. Its DELICIOUS!
6) Appetizer —> Instead of cheese, fried or breaded items, Try:
-Raw veggies and a ranch/spinach dip made with dairy free alternatives like almond milk cream cheese.
-Prosciutto wrapped asparagus baked for 10-15 minutes for a hit of protein and veggie.
-Shrimp cocktail
-Bacon wrapped dates baked or air=fried
7) Try a Cocktail or Mocktail without the added sugars (juice, liquid sweeteners, sodas). Use plain or flavored sparkling water, fresh herbs (like mint or basil) and optional: a shot of alcohol…perhaps a squeeze of lemon or orange slice or a smooshed strawberry and you have a fantastic drink - free of sugars and carbs.
**FUN TIP: Try Monk Fruit Sweetener, Maple Sugar or Coconut Sugar instead of refined sugar when baking! Gluten Free crust is also a great choice. Still yummy but not as bad for the bod. :)
Going To A Party?
8) Bring your own healthy yummy dish to share so no matter what, you have at least 1 healthier option for you to eat that will prevent you from feeling awful after the festivities are over.
What Else Can You Do?
9) Chiropractic Care! It boosts your immune system, keeps you connected and moving better. Who doesn’t want that?!?!
10) Stay Hydrated. Drink water. Pathology cannot survive in a hydrated environment. So many symptoms can be prevented just by drinking good quality water and with frequency. 1/2 your body weight in ounces is the goal…start first thing in the morning and end by dinner so you aren’t up all night peeing.
Remember, this isn’t about taking away the fun that goes with eating, connecting and celebrating the holidays. This is about doing all the fun and staying healthy…finishing off the year with Vibrancy! To up your game, check out the supplements in our store that can support your immune system health and your digestive health. Things like: Vitamin D3, Zinc, Immune Rmor, SImilase GFCF, and more!
For more info or to find out what is best for your individual body, touch base with us and schedule an appointment. You can also tune in to our Dinner with the Docs to ask questions, learn more and connect with the docs at Be Optimal.
Lastly, be sure to check out our 30 Day Reset Program and learn more about how you can kick the sugar habit and find health this coming year! This course is self-;led and will also have a live portion for those who choose starting in January. Bottom line, we are here to support you…utilize these tools…they are sure to keep you happier and healthier.
Cheers to Being Your Best You.
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Cari