I love this time of year! Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite holiday meal. I also think the shorter days are a hint to slow down, rest, and replenish from summer travels, and celebrate with our friends and family. Since this is the season of delicious comfort foods, this month I’m offering tips to get you through the holidays without some of the after effects of overindulgence (we’ve all been there!)
So, cheers to a beautiful new season full of glad tidings and good food!
Eating Tips for the Holidays
With all the upcoming meals and parties during this festive season, here are a few tips to help you navigate delicious temptations, stay healthy, and not gain weight:
1. Plan ahead. Prepare some snacks to eat ahead of time to take the edge off so you don’t arrive at a party hungry. If the party is potluck, bring a healthy treat you know you will enjoy.
2. Fill up fast with a protein snack paired with fat. This will help curb your cravings. For example, a slice of turkey rolled around avocado slices or olives and hummus.
3. Mix sweet treats with protein and/or fat. This slows down the release of sugar to avoid a sugar crash. How about a square of 80% chocolate with almonds? Or a green apple baked with coconut oil and a dash of cinnamon? Good fats are your friends!
Got Resolutions? I can help!
Before we know it, we’ll all be making resolutions for the New Year. Improving health and wellness is one of the most popular resolutions. Good news: If that’s on your list, homeopathy can help! If you’d like to balance your hormones, improve your sleep, and increase your energy, I would love to help you. If interested, you can book a Discovery Call with me by clicking here.
Marnie’s Favorite Remedies for a Happy Gut
Lots of homemade cooking and comfort foods…. Who doesn’t find it easy to overindulge during the holidays? The following remedies can take the edge off if you have too much to eat or drink and are suffering from indigestion.
Remember: For clients who are actively working with me and have a constitutional remedy, do not take any of the remedies below. Your constitutional remedy works on every level – you do not need anything supplemental.
If you do not have a constitutional remedy, you can try one of these acute, over-the-counter homeopathic remedies by matching the symptoms you are experiencing.
Carbo vegetabilis (Vegetable charcoal)
- Physical symptoms: Frequent burping with gas and bloating after eating rich, fatty foods. Carbonated drinks bring relief. May experience breathing difficulties from “incarcerated gas” (my favorite medical term!). Desires fresh air even if feeling chilly
- Emotional symptoms: Apathy, indifference
Nux vomica (Quaker buttons)
This is the classic remedy for food poisoning and hangovers.
- Physical symptoms: Bloating, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after overindulging in food, coffee, stimulants, or alcohol. Headache with dizziness; oversensitivity to light, noise, smells. Unrefreshed sleep and symptoms are worse upon waking
Symptoms resulting from overworking or nervous exhaustion - Emotional symptoms: Irritable, impatient
As you can see, each of the 4,000 remedies available have a different profile that is individually matched to how each person experiences symptoms.
Directions for taking remedies: Choose the 30c potency at your health food store. Take 2 pellets, 3 times per day, or until your symptoms improve. Do not take for more than 3 days.
Quick Definitions
Homeopathy: Homeopathy is a form of evidenced-based natural medicine that has been used for over 200 years. Homeopathic remedies flip your internal healing mechanism on and allow your body to restore balance from within.
Acute Remedies: For conditions that come on suddenly such as the flu, food poisoning, or motion sickness. The examples in this newsletter are readily available over-the-counter.
Constitutional Remedies: For chronic, long-standing symptoms that have lasted more than six months such as PMS, migraines, or endometriosis. A professional homeopath has the necessary training to act as a detective and select the best constitutional remedy for each
person.
Food for Healing
I developed this recipe when I was working at the Natural Gourmet Cooking Institute in New York many years ago. Every time I serve it, I receive lots of requests for this easy recipe. I make this sauce along with a crock-pot turkey breast so I can enjoy Thanksgiving flavors year-round. Triple the recipe and freeze the rest to savor later. Let me know what you think!
Orange Cranberry Sauce Extraordinaire
12 oz cranberries
1 cup orange juice
½ teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
¼ – ½ cup maple syrup or coconut sugar
Pinch of cinnamon
Boil the orange juice and add ginger and orange zest. Once it is at a full boil, add the cranberries. Cook over medium heat for about ten minutes and stir occasionally.
Remove from heat and add the maple syrup/coconut sugar and cinnamon. If saving for later, cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate.
This can also be transformed into a fun holiday appetizer by pouring it over Trader Joe’s vegan cream cheese and serving with Simple Mills Almond Flour crackers. And it is entirely dairy-free and gluten-free. Enjoy!
Marcel Proust is responsible for one of my favorite quotes:
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
Please be sure to thank the people who nourish you and your life this Thanksgiving season. Happy holidays!
Warm wishes,
Marnie