Beat the Holiday Bloat!

The holidays usually mean that we all eat and drink more. Ham and cookies and wine, oh my! Overeating and drinking a bit too much eggnog can leave our bellies feeling full and bloated. Here are some tips to help you feel like your normal self again.

• Be mindful of the types of food you eat. Although foods like beans, broccoli, cabbage, and some dairy products are good for you, eating too many of these foods may cause belly swelling, bloating and gas. Foods such as asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, raisins, and pineapples can help keep bloating to a minimum. Bananas, potatoes, and spinach can also help your body shed extra water weight.
• Avoid acidic beverages. Tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol are all acidic and they can irritate your intestinal tract, which may result in swelling and bloating.
• Eat food that is high in fiber. Fiber helps move things along in our body so we don’t get all blocked up and constipated.
• Stay away from too much sodium. Sodium makes our bodies retain water and that extra water accumulates in our bodies when sodium and potassium levels are not properly balanced.

The best way to help keep bloating to a minimum during the holidays – or any time for that matter – is to drink a lot of water. It may seem like a contradiction to drink water when you’re feeling bloated, but our bodies also retain water when we’re dehydrated. Your intestinal tract needs water to help move waste out of your body. Drinking more water also keeps your kidneys functioning properly and gets rid of toxins more quickly.

The best water to drink is ionized alkaline water. Hydrating with ionized water helps to minimize the acidity in your body caused by the food and beverages you consume, which in turn helps minimize bloating. The ionized water from your machine is also broken down into smaller molecules, which allows the water to be absorbed into your cells faster. You can avoid the bloated feeling you get from drinking regular water because it doesn’t slosh around in your stomach; it goes right to the cells where it belongs. It would be a good idea to bring some ionized alkaline water with you to your holiday parties and drink it in between meals and other beverages. Your body – and your waistline – will thank you!