If where you work is anything like where I work, you’re surrounded by sugary holiday goodness right now. Or sugary badness, depending. I try to keep to my almonds and water and dark chocolate routine, but sometimes you just gots to have that homemade chocolate ganache thumbprint cookie (thanks, Sherry, yum!).

And then what? Especially then-what if you’ve really over-done it and made yourself feel ick? We just got some nice tips in from Dr. Tom Bayne, founder of Pure Balance Health Center, and our friends at Chicago Healers, an alternative wellness practice. There are some nice, helpful ideas among the usuals (which we could all use reminding of too).

I’d also suggest that you add some extra self-kindness this season; self-beratement makes a terribly untasty dessert! 

5 Tips for Better Holiday Digestion

1. Walk it Off

Walking helps food move along the digestive tract, improving digestion and absorption. For added benefits, walk while massaging your abdomen with your palms, in a circle around your belly button.

2. Drink Herbal Tea

Relieve that feeling of fullness with herbal teas that target your digestion. Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil and in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating.

3. The Next Morning Drink Apple Cider

Apple cider vinegar is traditionally used to remedy digestive distress, support liver detoxification, normalize digestive juices, and reduce intestinal bloating. Mix 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with 12 ounces of warm water, and drink in the morning on empty stomach. Feel free to add a little honey or maple syrup. Lemon water will also help.

4. Eat Right

After overdoing it, make sure to eat meals with fiber and protein to help your body recover from the overindulgence.

5. Drink Water

Though this is hardly a secret remedy for combating a hangover, it bears repeating. Alcohol dehydrates your system, so drinking plenty of water will help combat some of your unpleasant hangover symptoms, rehydrate your body, and flush out toxins. Drink a few glasses of room temperature, filtered water after a night of holiday extravagance.

[image via: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stilles_Mineralwasser.jpg]

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