Digestive Health and Holiday Eating

by Dr. David Williams

The American holiday season is filled with many things: family gatherings, parties, special events, and gifts. More often than not, these celebrations revolve around a lot of food. While breaking bread with family and friends is an important part of the holiday tradition, an overabundance of fatty foods, sugar-laden desserts, and alcohol can really play havoc with your digestive health.

You can give your digestive system the extra support it needs to survive holiday stress. There is something I recommend you do during the holidays and throughout the year to promote healthy, comfortable digestion: take a quality digestive enzyme and probiotic supplement.

Maintaining the proper level of digestive enzymes will help you break down hard-to-digest foods and keep your digestive process running smoothly and comfortably. A good formula will contain enzymes that target the three types of foods: carbohydrates, protein, and fats. You’ll know it’s working for you because you’ll notice less bloating and gas, and feel greater overall digestive comfort.

I typically recommend one capsule of a digestive enzyme product before your two biggest meals. But if you’re eating a particularly large meal, like so many holiday feasts are, you can take two capsules to help your system break down the extra food.

Top-notch probiotics will replenish the good bacteria in your gut, which also helps relieve bloating and gas, and can help prevent constipation and even occasional diarrhea. Plus, since 70 percent of your immune system actually resides in your digestive tract, a good probiotic will bolster your immune system as well as your digestive health. That’s a bonus you’ll want to have during the holidays, which can be a time of stress for many people.

Paying attention to how you approach food, taking enzymes to help you achieve greater levels of digestion and absorption, and using probiotics to support optimum digestive health can all make a positive difference in how you feel and help you enjoy a healthy holiday season.