After the Holidays, Chose Foods Wisely!

People look differently at food after big holidays like Thanksgiving.

 

That is because you EAT differently on Thanksgiving.

 
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We expect it, we want it, and most of all, we want the whole traditional experience now that we all are not sitting at the kids table any more.

 

So now that we are grown up, are we eating grown up food or are we slipping back into yesteryear and eating kid food at the grown up table? After all, isn't the traditional foods from our past and childhood really comfort food?

Considering most people eat 229 gms of FAT at  the Thanksgiving meal along with lots of sugar, sauces, sweets and drinks we may not normally eat, the body needs balancing.

Let's face it, drinking a 20 oz Coke has 16 teaspoons of sugar in it alone. Add on the pies, cakes, cookies, candied potatoes, ice cream and the other hidden sweets..........YIKES!

After the pancreas and liver get over the shock of the day, it wants to relax along with the intestines. You know, kick back like you are on vacation. That is what we call balance.

 

However, most people feel tired, lethargic and lack energy after big meals like Thanksgiving.

 

 

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Is this how you feel?

What the body really needs is a jump start and not from caffeinated beverages like coffee, sodas, or energy drinks. Part of the reason the body feels sluggish is because of the rebounding of the sugar jolt the pancreas has to deal with and the craving for more when the cycle starts to repeat itself. The body also has to deal with excess toxins, additives, artificial dyes, added hormones, hidden animal antibiotics,and possible leaky gut symptoms from our habits of eating. Leaky gut happens when there is a leak of bacteria, toxins, undigested food particles in between the intestinal wall cells and it then gets absorbed into the bloodstream.  This can cause autoimmune issues as well as fatigue. 

Another thing, you can feel tired and lethargic just from being dehydrated! The first sign of dehydration is fatigue.  If you are having wine or another type of alchol, make sure you drink 2 glasses of water for every glass of wine or other beverage of your choice. That way you know you are staying way ahead of the game as alcohol dehydrates you. Not only does water hydrate you, but it flushes out toxins as well.

Your body will thank you in the morning!

Luckily, there are foods that you can eat after these kinds of big meals to help point you back in the right direction. It would require you to eat at the grown up table and think like a grown up while you are there.

Here are some foods to help the body recover from holiday eating and it's all plant based...now that aught to tell you something!

 

Garlic: besides the antibiotic like quality,  garlic is an excellent antioxidant and one of the best foods to flush heavy metals out of the body. It also activates liver enzymes to filter toxins. Raw garlic helps to stimulate the production of glutathione needed for liver detoxification. Helps to eliminate microrganisms.

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Broccoli: The phytochemical Sulforaphane, helps enzymes in the body detoxify carcinogens before cell damage occurs.

 

Lemon: Helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form to be flushed out of the body. Aids especially with the flushing out liver toxins. Stimulates bile production. Cleanses the kidneys.

 

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Daikon: Helps with fat metabolism. The juice of the daikon contains digestive enzymes and aids in the digestion of complex carbohydrates.

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Leafy Green Vegetables: chlorophyll helps the body neutralize toxins. Supports the liver to rid the body of toxins. Helps to maintain an alkaline presence in the body which is needed for a "healthy state". Most people do not eat enough alkaline foods.  Arugula and watercress have a light diuretic effect and works with the liver to flush out toxins.

 

Lastly, don't forget to exercise, to get the blood circulating, aiding in the clean out and circulating oxygen and nutrients!

 

To your health! 

 

Donna Marie Laino

For more information go to: http://healthyhealingfoods.blogspot.com/