SEASON OF CELEBRATION

BY MARY ANN O’DELL, MS, RDN

’TIS THE SEASON FOR GIFT GIVING, celebrations, and food! From office parties to family gatherings, holiday feasts to New Year’s Eve, people pack a lot of celebration into this holiday season. And while gatherings may be smaller this year, celebrations will likely continue. With all of these gettogethers, it’s hard not to overindulge. People tend to eat and drink more around the holidays, then regret it afterwards. But you can take steps to avoid overindulgence and still enjoy all that each celebration has to offer.

The number one rule for avoiding overindulgence? Don’t eat or drink in excess. Sounds simple…but for those who refuse this good advice, there are steps you can take to plan ahead and reduce the after-effects of overindulgence.

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1. DRINK UP…THE WATER.

If you plan on participating in holiday parties, drink plenty of water during the day. If you drink alcohol at a gathering, alternate with water. Staying hydrated is a critical step for alleviating the negative effects of too much alcohol.

2. STOCK THE “BEFORE & AFTER” KIT NOW.

If you know you will be at parties with alcohol, consider a natural approach to protect your liver. Over-consumption of alcohol causes dehydration and damages the liver, among other things. In addition to drinking plenty of water before, during and after the party, take N-acetyl-cysteine, which can help protect the liver and reduce the toxic effects of occasional alcohol consumption. A B-complex before and after is also a good idea, since excessive alcohol intake can deplete the body of water-soluble B vitamins.

3. EAT LIGHT & RIGHT.

Those tasty little appetizers await you at the party! Plan ahead by eating light fruit, vegetable, and fiber-rich meals in the morning and afternoon. Consider taking a white kidney bean extract before you go. White kidney bean extract can help neutralize the negative effects of carbohydrates by inhibiting a portion of the body’s amylase enzyme, decreasing the digestion of starch-carbohydrate calories, including those from breads and sweets. At the party, enjoy smaller portions of high-fat, high-calorie foods, but fill your plate with lots of crudité vegetables and fruits…and enjoy!

4. PLAN FOR A POST-HOLIDAY DETOX.

Makes plans now to start the new year “clean.”

• Set aside time for a cleanse. It can be for as little as one day or as long as 3 weeks. You should not need to take time off from normal daily work or activity, but it is important to eat fresh unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and to drink plenty of pure water. For exercise, choose lower impact exercises and stretching, such as yoga or walking.

• Increase fiber intake. Psyllium husks, flaxseeds, and fruit pectins are excellent sources of natural plant fibers that support the overall health of the intestinal tract. Fibers bind to toxins and help them move out of the waste stream. As stated above, be sure to drink plenty of water, especially when increasing fiber intake.

• Use detox and support herbs. Numerous herbs play an important role in detoxification. Milk thistle and dandelion help cleanse and support the liver. Dandelion and red clover support cleansing of the blood, and guggul supports fat and cholesterol metabolism in the body.

• Replenish after a cleanse. Fortify the intestinal tract with probiotics. Kefir, yogurt, kombucha, and other fermented foods are great ways to build up probiotic supplies in the body. Probiotic supplements are also concentrated ways to replenish these beneficial bacteria.

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