Holiday Belly Bloat

Has all the holiday eating over the past few weeks left you feeling bloated?  I know that when my eating pattern changes even slightly, whether over the holiday's or during vacations, my body knows something is different.  Bloating, gas, heartburn, and water retention can all be symptoms of eating too many foods that are high in sugar, fat, and/or salt.

Many people feel like this now, so I have seen a lot of discussions online about cleanses and detoxes to help rid your body of toxins acquired from holiday indulging.  Your body is well equipped to rid itself of waste and toxins without assistance.  Scientific evidence is extremely lacking in this area.  Most evidence that suggests that cleanses or detoxes are beneficial is anecdotal.  Most of us who are trained in nutrition science feel that they are more dangerous than helpful.

You body will get itself back on track in time.  We want everything yesterday of course, so it's understandable that detoxes and/or cleanses would be enticing.  Here are a few tips to help you feel better safely.

Drink lots of water: water will help your body filter out any waste and toxins in your body, so drink up.  The recommendation is approximately 64 ounces per day.  I know many of my clients dislike water.  Flavor water will fresh fruit such as lemons, strawberries, oranges, limes, and berries. 

Eat more fiber: fibrous foods help eliminate waste from our GI tract.  I have had clients ask if they should do colon cleanses to help detox their system.  We don't need to do something like this.  Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help clean you out safely and naturally.

Exercise: working up a good sweat during exercise will help eliminate waste through your skin.

Eat more fruits and vegetables: not only are these foods sources of fiber, they also contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that help protect our bodies from damage caused by toxins in our food and environment.