Hi friends! Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week already! I hope you will be able to be with your loved ones this year. Per usual, I am providing all the necessary Ayurvedic suggestions for indulging and some remedies for overdoing! Over the years, the most typical questions I get at Thanksgiving time are about digestion. Particularly how to avoid discomfort, bloating, gas, indigestion, and acid reflux. This is because most of us will be eating larger amounts of food than we typically do during Thanksgiving. But what you may not realize is the real contributor to most of your discomfort is not so much from the quantityyou're eating, but rather from the combinations of foods you're eating and whenyou're eating them. Have no fear-Ayurveda has lots of suggestions to help you feel great as you push the rules of your diet this time of year. A General note: Remember, stress during the holidays can move the tissues and weaken the energetic flow creating physical waste called ama that can agitate the doshas. This can show up as restlessness, digestive discomfort, pain, a weakened immune system, and more. To set yourself up to stay well this season double down on all your self-care practices to keep yourself nourished and at ease, both physically and emotionally. Thanksgiving Dinner Do not skip meals to "save room" for dinner. If you want to skip a meal, you're better off skipping a meal or two the following day. You have a better chance of creating digestive discomfort if you disturb your natural digestive cycle by not eating before Thanksgiving dinner. Consider eating something light, like stewed apples or oatmeal for breakfast and sip warm water throughout the day to help stoke the digestive fire for dinner! To avoid gas and bloating
Do not talk while you are eating. Put your fork down while you speak so you don't take in a lot of air (which contributes to indigestion as well).
Do not drink anything iced while eating (no ice in general because it slows digestion).
Skip the veggie tray (raw vegetables are very difficult to digest and will make it hard to digest the bigger meal later. Vata's watch this one!
Avoid carbonated anything as this introduces more air into to colon. Remedy Walk and/or practice gentle yoga poses like wind relieving pose, happy baby pose, and gentle twists To prevent GERD avoid: Garlic and onions Salad Cheese Spice Tomato Vinegar coffee/tea To remedy Eat an apple after your meal If you still feel stuffed in the morning, sip on ginger tea until you feel better. Do not eat more until you feel lighter. Slice 4-5 pieces of fresh ginger in a quart of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 min. or have a box of ginger tea on hand.
I hope you have a very relaxing and fun holiday.
I am grateful to each of you for being a part of this community!
Be well,
~Julie