Ah the Holidays. That awesome time of year where we go from parties to office events to yet even more parties and eat and drink until we can no more.

The bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, fatigue and discomfort we feel afterwards is just the price we have to pay for enjoying our festivities, right?

Nope!

While I don’t recommend actually eating (or drinking) until you feel like you’re going to pop, you’re not doomed to having a “food baby” just because you enjoyed some festive pigging out.

Here are 5 great tips on how to enjoy without the bloat and discomfort:

1) Lemon Water

Super easy – squeeze a lemon into your water glass and drink it throughout the meal or event. The acidity naturally helps your body break down your food. Use at least half a lemon to maximize the benefits. If you’re like me and love fresh lemon, drink just as is. If you want a more festive drink, add in a little bit of pure maple syrup to taste to make it a lemonade (I like using maple syrup for this because it blends in quickly and easily).

2) Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a big one, especially if you have acid reflux (yes really)! Put a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a small glass of water and drink it like a shot right after eating. If you can’t stand the taste, just add a spoon or two of honey to it! Although it seems counterintuitive, apple cider vinegar is actually an amazing way to counteract acid reflux and much better for you than Tums. While I really love Bragg’s Apple Cider vinegar, there are also these really convenient travel size bottles of ACV that you can take along with you to events and dinners.

3) Eat more fermented foods

Your gut regulates so many important functions of your body, such as immune health, metabolism and of course – digestion. Eating fermented foods helps to nourish the good bacteria in your gut, which will in turn, improve digestion and overall wellbeing. Try eating something fermented daily, or at least a few times a week – I promise you will see a huge improvement in your digestion! As the wise Dr. Mark Hyman says, “Think of your gut as an inner garden; just as with any garden—when you let the weeds take over, you get into trouble.”

Some examples of fermented foods:

Kimchi (my favorite), as well as any pickled vegetable

Kefir (the unsweetened kind)

Miso (yes, like the soup!)

4) Probiotics

Most people have heard that probiotics can help with digestion. But do you know that there are many different types of probiotic strains? The type that is right for you can vary depending on your specific needs and may require some experimentation. I’ve switched around over the years but I currently take the S. Boulardii strain that was recommended to me by a Functional Medicine doctor that I worked with after giving birth to my daughter. I’ve been really happy with this one and one advantage of this strain is that it does not require refrigeration, which is a huge plus for since I travel often!

5) Betaine with Pepsin

If you have slow digestion and often feel tired after eating, this one might just change your life! I first heard about this supplement from the amazing Izabella Wentz. Betaine is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps your digestive system break down proteins.

There are people (like me) who tend to have low stomach acid and this makes it much harder for your stomach to digest food, especially protein. You end up feeling extremely tired and bloated because your body is working so hard just to digest your food. Betaine is quite potent and the amount to be taken varies individually. If you think you may have low stomach acid, start by experimenting with taking just one at a time with your meals and slowly increase. If Betaine is right for you, you feel an immediate difference in your digestion. Note: if you have a history of ulcers, do NOT take this supplement. Also if you take any medication, check with your doctor to make sure there are no contraindications. There are many brands of Betaine that you can buy, but I personally love this one.

Know someone else who would love to feel good after eating? Tap the share button and spread the love! :)

*Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I personally use and love.

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