Five DIY Tips to Soothe Your Tummy this Thanksgiving
The amount of food at a Thanksgiving feast can be overwhelming. And giving into temptation is too easy. So no lectures here! As long as it doesn't become a habit, it is totally understandable to eat that extra piece of pie. And that extra helping of mashed potatoes. Before you know it, you stuffed yourself and now feel like a great big turkey!
Don’t go reaching for the antacids just yet!
After you undo that first button on your pants or loosen your belt, you might want to try these five simple remedies to soothe your stomach, and other parts of your aching digestive system.
- Get up and move. If you just sit there holding your stomach, the food is going to get backed up, causing gas, heartburn, and pain. Your stomach is about the size of your fist and your intestines can only move so fast. So when they are overloaded, it is important that you help them move things along. No one is telling you to run a marathon, but do get up and walk around. Stretch a little. Maybe this is a good time to help your host or hostess clean up?
- Try some water with fresh-squeezed lemon. Lemons provide a gentle detox to our bodies and overloaded GI systems usually respond well to warm water. This refreshing drink can also be a lifesaver the next morning.
- Enjoy a small cup of coffee. Just make sure its black with no sugar. You can add a little cinnamon for flavor. No decaf either. The caffeine will help to stimulate your digestion and get the food moving faster through your system.
- If you don’t like caffeine, have some ginger tea. Just a warning, ginger tea can really heat things up and if you drink too much, it can have you running for the bathroom! To soften and sweeten the effects of the ginger, add a teaspoon of raw honey. Ginger isn't for everyone and sometimes it’s just too hot for some people. How can you tell? Look at your tongue in the mirror. If your tongue is already bright red, you might want to skip this one.
- Instead try peppermint tea. This will cool down your body and help to relax your stomach and intestines, so their digestive rhythms can return the rhythm to normal.
Even though this was created with Thanksgiving in mind, these DIY tips can be used anytime you overeat. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
