"Its Christmas" I can eat anything; I'll start in the New Year.

Over indigence and how to minimize it.

Tis the season to...totally overindulge. Bring on the selection boxes and all the chocolate baubles! Studies show the UK consumes over 208 million boxes of chocolate every year at Christmas time, or 3.2 boxes per person. The trouble is, the festive fallout of cracking open another family-sized tin of chocolates is a bloated tummy and burning pain in your chest. Grim! Thankfully, there are some ways to enjoy Christmas treats without upsetting your gut.

Sugar and high-glycaemic foods can cause imbalances in the gut microbiome, leading to issues like bloating, gas, and even diarrhoea. Also, the way that we consume our food at Christmas can also bring on heartburn and indigestion. During the festive period, we tend to eat large meals, eat too fast, eat just before bed and eat even when we're full, all of which can have an impact on our gut health.

Ways to help: refrain from eating every thing you see and stop before you are full, The Japanese have a saying, “Hara hachi bun me”, which means "Eat until you are eight parts (out of ten) full" This will stop any tendencies towards stomach stretching, which, if they happen on a regular basis, can lead to needing more food to be full.

Take a walk- After food is consumed; this seems to act to lower the insulin spike you will trigger from food. It will trigger the body to burn calories and not hold onto them

Drink less Alcohol take a glass of water in-between drinks if you are out with a crowd and don’t want to feel the odd one out not drinking have an alcoholic bottle, then just fill it back up with water in between rounds; no one will notice the difference.

Try not to eat late. If you do eat later than normal, which often happens at this time of year, then skip breakfast the next day and have a longer fast so your stomach can rest up a bit.

Reading-

Art of the week: I saw this picture, and it took me right back to my youth, so I had to have a go at painting it, Nostalgia.

Quote-

Word - Intemperateness: A lack of moderation in one's beliefs, actions, or habits.

A Minute of Philosophy

Task for you this week: Between Christmas and the New Year, make sure you have two 16-hour fasts.