The holiday season is a time for indulgent meals with festive favorites like turkey and creamy mashed potatoes, but the aftermath of overeating can often leave you feeling bloated, sluggish, and uncomfortable.
Here’s what you can do the day after
One of the simplest ways to recover is by staying hydrated. Drinking water after a large meal supports digestion by helping food move through your system and flushing out excess sodium, which can reduce bloating and ease discomfort.
While it may seem counterintuitive, drinking more water actually encourages the body to release retained water caused by sodium-heavy or sugary meals.
Hydration also plays a key role in stabilizing blood sugar levels. High-carb meals can lead to energy crashes, but maintaining proper hydration helps prevent these dips and keeps you feeling balanced.
Here are four easy steps to detoxify your body after the holiday season:
Hydrate: Drink plenty of filtered water or green tea with lemon. That will help alkalize your body, increase metabolism and reign in cravings. Salt and sugar dehydrate the body, so all of that turkey, ham, bread pudding and apple pie is robbing your body of fluids.
Eat plant-based foods: Fill your plate with natural foods like organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and almonds. Incorporate lean protein, such as grass-fed organic chicken and wild-caught salmon, as well as eggs from organic, cage-free hens into your diet.
Exercise: If you didn’t go to the gym or run laps around the track before the holidays, don’t try to become a fitness fanatic overnight. Instead, start with a brisk walk around the neighborhood or yoga, which improves flexibility, muscle strength, cardio health and most importantly, metabolism.
Sleep: At nighttime, your body’s cells rapidly repair and renew themselves, and a solid night’s sleep allows your digestive system to catch up. Sleep also is a natural stress reliever, and with so many social functions, expenses and visitors, the holiday season can be very stressful.