Hello ,
The holiday season can trigger many emotions. My friend who is a New York-based psychotherapist says that November and December are her busiest months. Much of the stress can stem from family relations.
In my closed and close-knit Facebook group, there was a long and heartfelt conversation about feeling odd and unsupported during family get-togethers when we change our diet.
Here’s the thing: You should not apologize or feel bad for having chosen to honor your body’s needs.
When people go vegetarian, vegan or eat kosher or halal food, we accept their nutritional or religious choices with no questions (other than the ones to clarify what food they can eat). I don’t ever remember my vegan friends apologizing for their dietary choices before coming for dinner.
Do not apologize for your choices. Explain why you do it so it gives them a sense of context (the brief “why”), but don’t feel like you need lengthy explanations. Or apologies. You do not.
Whenever I go into a difficult conversation or situation, I rehearse the conversations in my mind. Visualization is a powerful tool—it tricks your brain into thinking that you’ve done it many times before and it only gets easier when you actually do it with your family.
I’ve gone into more detail on how to prepare for those awkward family conversations here. I hope it’s the pep talk you need to feel confident in your dietary choices.
In the spirit of nourishing holiday meals, I’d like to talk about herbs, carriers, and recipes that help with digestion rather than hinder it. Keep reading for more.
Rock star herbs that can help digestion
Fennel: From its bulb to seeds, fennel contains compounds that help ease digestive ailments associated with stomach upset. Fennel helps the body release gastric enzymes, relieving bloating and gas. This is due in part to the seed’s bitter nature that increases bile secretion, important for the breakdown of fats.
Cumin: In traditional medicine, cumin is commonly used for indigestion. This is because it can increase digestive enzymes and speed the digestion process, as well as stimulate bile production for proper fat and nutrient digestion.
Caraway: This spice is great for relieving indigestion symptoms, like gas, cramping, and bloating. That’s because it can relax the digestive tract’s smooth muscle tissue.
Licorice: This powerful root contains glycyrrhizic acid, which helps fortify the immune system and helps relieve tummy troubles thanks to its anti-inflammatory, calming properties.
Ginger: You’re likely familiar with this root’s ability to alleviate nausea. It also aids in digestion and saliva flow.
Carriers where you can use these herbs
Apple cider vinegar: Try infusing apple cider vinegar with some of the herbs listed above. It makes a great base for salad dressings or any recipe that calls for vinegar. You can even use it while making bone broth to extract nutrients from the bones. With apple cider vinegar, you’ll enjoy benefits like maintaining and lowering blood sugar levels, weight loss, and reducing cholesterol.
Honey: Sweet, sticky honey makes the perfect carrier for an infusion of any of the above herbs. Use it wherever you’d normally use honey, or even enjoy it by the spoonful for a digestive boost. Honey improves gut microflora and acts as a prebiotic, feeding good bacteria for a balanced digestive system.
Tea/infusion: Enjoy the benefits of digestion-boosting herbs in a warm, comforting beverage. Use any of the above herbs in a tea or infusion to reap their benefits.
Digestion-boosting recipes to try
Healthy digestion is so important, which is why we have so many recipes that aid in digestion on our site. Here are some of my favorites:
I hope these digestive recipes help keep your digestion on track this holiday season. Enjoy!
The holiday season can trigger many emotions. My friend who is a New York-based psychotherapist says that November and December are her busiest months. Much of the stress can stem from family relations.
In my closed and close-knit Facebook group, there was a long and heartfelt conversation about feeling odd and unsupported during family get-togethers when we change our diet.
Here’s the thing: You should not apologize or feel bad for having chosen to honor your body’s needs.
When people go vegetarian, vegan or eat kosher or halal food, we accept their nutritional or religious choices with no questions (other than the ones to clarify what food they can eat). I don’t ever remember my vegan friends apologizing for their dietary choices before coming for dinner.
Do not apologize for your choices. Explain why you do it so it gives them a sense of context (the brief “why”), but don’t feel like you need lengthy explanations. Or apologies. You do not.
Whenever I go into a difficult conversation or situation, I rehearse the conversations in my mind. Visualization is a powerful tool—it tricks your brain into thinking that you’ve done it many times before and it only gets easier when you actually do it with your family.
I’ve gone into more detail on how to prepare for those awkward family conversations here. I hope it’s the pep talk you need to feel confident in your dietary choices.
In the spirit of nourishing holiday meals, I’d like to talk about herbs, carriers, and recipes that help with digestion rather than hinder it. Keep reading for more.
Rock star herbs that can help digestion
Fennel: From its bulb to seeds, fennel contains compounds that help ease digestive ailments associated with stomach upset. Fennel helps the body release gastric enzymes, relieving bloating and gas. This is due in part to the seed’s bitter nature that increases bile secretion, important for the breakdown of fats.
Cumin: In traditional medicine, cumin is commonly used for indigestion. This is because it can increase digestive enzymes and speed the digestion process, as well as stimulate bile production for proper fat and nutrient digestion.
Caraway: This spice is great for relieving indigestion symptoms, like gas, cramping, and bloating. That’s because it can relax the digestive tract’s smooth muscle tissue.
Licorice: This powerful root contains glycyrrhizic acid, which helps fortify the immune system and helps relieve tummy troubles thanks to its anti-inflammatory, calming properties.
Ginger: You’re likely familiar with this root’s ability to alleviate nausea. It also aids in digestion and saliva flow.
Carriers where you can use these herbs
Apple cider vinegar: Try infusing apple cider vinegar with some of the herbs listed above. It makes a great base for salad dressings or any recipe that calls for vinegar. You can even use it while making bone broth to extract nutrients from the bones. With apple cider vinegar, you’ll enjoy benefits like maintaining and lowering blood sugar levels, weight loss, and reducing cholesterol.
Honey: Sweet, sticky honey makes the perfect carrier for an infusion of any of the above herbs. Use it wherever you’d normally use honey, or even enjoy it by the spoonful for a digestive boost. Honey improves gut microflora and acts as a prebiotic, feeding good bacteria for a balanced digestive system.
Tea/infusion: Enjoy the benefits of digestion-boosting herbs in a warm, comforting beverage. Use any of the above herbs in a tea or infusion to reap their benefits.
Digestion-boosting recipes to try
Healthy digestion is so important, which is why we have so many recipes that aid in digestion on our site. Here are some of my favorites:
- Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar with Licorice Root
- Fennel Honey Digestive Pastilles (super easy to make and a great gift!)
- Licorice Root Tea
- Juniper Honey (my absolute favorite, I forage juniper on my walks)
- Ginger Licorice Infused Honey
I hope these digestive recipes help keep your digestion on track this holiday season. Enjoy!