Thanksgiving around the corner and many will over eat, eat foods they are allergic to, and in some cases get food poisoning. There are several things that you can do at home to help prevent these from happening to you and your loved ones. With all the focus on eating, foods preparation, and Holidays this seems like a good time to focus on some basic Nutrition facts, Herbs that can aid in calming an upset stomach and general food prep ideas. Most will be common sense. Keep the food cold or warm depending on what it is until time to eat. Dont let your Turkey sit out and thaw in the warm air, or in hot/warm water. It is best to thaw it in the fridge or if you need it out in a sink of cold water. Refresh often to keep it cool. Do not cross contaminate, no meat and then vegetable chopping with out washing with soapy hot water first and in between foods. Do not leave left overs sitting out to long. Get them put away as soon as you can to keep spoiling from happening. All simple steps, but things we get into a hurry and sometimes do not think about.
What about the temptation to eat the foods you love but are allergic to, or do not tolerate well? The best thing is to find alternatives. There are many options. A few minutes of pleasure is not worth the pain caused by food allergies. I deal with dairy allergies daily, and it can be a little rough at times, sometimes it seems easier to say “ok a little wont hurt” but it really does hurt. It is not worth it, so stick to your safe foods. You can have an awesome Thanksgiving dinner and avoid the foods that cause you grief.
Over eating is another common issue that causes some horrid tummy trouble this time of year. It is so easy to sit down, eat a large plate of food, with seconds on the turkey and sweet potatoes. And then dig into the pie and eat a piece of each. After feeling like you should roll away not walk. Eat the foods you like, try smaller portions. Space it out some. Eat your main meal and have dessert an hour later. Stick to 1 or 2 slices of pie, and a few hours later eat more if possible.
But when you can not avoid the upset tummy for what ever reason. Even if it is because you gave in and ate a helping of everything there are a few things to try to help calm your stomach down.
This is a great time to pull out the Herbal Tea! Your guests may even love the idea of a cup of herbal tea between the main meal and dessert. With the pie sip another cup and follow up with another after the pie is done. There are a few options to choose from, and if you have a variety to offer guests even better. For those that dairy sometimes bothers a few good teas to drink would be Ginger root, Fennel Seed, and dandelion. They help your body produce enzymes needed to break down the milk products in the meal. This can help gas or indigestion.
Papaya helps break down protein into digestable form, and peppermint helps relieve gas and helps the body produce enzymes needed to break down the food. So either of these would be a great tea to have handy.
If it real bad some Slippery Elm may help sooth the stomach. A great herbal combination to sooth the stomach and promote digestion is peppermint, fennel, ginger, catnip, papaya, and spearmint. These will calm and relax you, as well as the stomach. Sooth an acidic stomach, aid in digestion, help heart burn and intestinal gas. These are a few of my favorite Herbal teas to have handy on a daily basis, and when I know I am going to over eat I really want them around.
Remember Holistic Health is taking care of your body during the Holidays as well as the rest of the year. A cup of Herbal Atea can make a big difference in an upset stomach or a calm one. So enjoy your Thanksgiving and the food and family. Have a cup of tea between the main meal and dessert. Relax while you do instead of being caught up in the go go go of the season.
Jaelene
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