I don’t know about you guys, but I am totally ready to get back to the way I normally eat this month. Even though I’m all for the mantra ‘treat yourself’, sometimes it just feels good to stuff yourself with greens, you know? I’m feeling a little sluggish, a little blah and kinda still coming down from a post-festive high where I nommed trifle, baklava, and way too much of my baby’s birthday cake. Then my husband kept bringing home desserts his patients had baked him and I kept nibbling them too. They were everywhere I turned! Seriously. Totally his fault.
Anyway, January always feels like a bit of a reset, and I (think) I’m ready to face life sans trifle in hand. This is also the month people normally re-asses their lives, make changes, resolutions etc… although I’m not down with resolutions. I’m not sure why. I feel like they come attached with negative connotations. Like they’re set up to fail. (They also make me want to poke my eyes out.) I just told my husband (in a very nagging way) that ‘we have to make the effort eat dinner together again!’ because when we both got super busy at the end of last year and had a crazy baby to look after, we started eating at different times – and I just can’t with that. We need to nom together.
I think that’s probably my only resolution type of thing though. (But can you nag a resolution onto someone else? HA. Not sure.) I also want to practice gratitude a little more and just do stuff that makes me happy. Stuff that doesn’t feel draining. You feel? Pretty simple. Life is too short.
Anyhoo, back to eating less trifle more greens. That should be a mantra this month right? I literally hate all the detox, weight loss talk (they also makes me want to poke my eyes out), however, there is a 100% potato diet thing doing the rounds on news segments, as a weight loss scheme, and I’d be down for that. Potatoes are my life. My ride or dies. I even roast them in 35-degree heat that is how dedicated I am to ensuring I live a potato filled life.
#potatoesforeva (although maybe potatoes and other food foreva would be more fun).
Anyway, while I’m getting back to eating normally I also take supplements. Beauty supplements are my jam. (Promise I’ll write about them soon) but I also take probiotics and magnesium to make me feel a little more normal. Sometimes collagen. They’re pretty much the only things I take, however, I’m sure there are others that we can take.
The supplements below are just some recommended to me to ensure we can better to skip through January sans trifle in hand. Which might seem sad… but it’s not that bad. We can always nibble on trifles on weekends.
Ps. What do you supplements do you take? Are you making resolutions this year?
- Milk thistle
With late nights and overeating likely on the menu during the silly season, try giving your liver some love with milk thistle. Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant which has protective and regenerative effects on the liver. Take a supplement before your first glass of vino to assist your liver in processing and removing the alcohol from your body, as well as protecting your liver from toxins.
- Probiotics
Your gut needs extra nutritional support during the festive period, as both alcohol and sugar can mess with your gut flora by interfering with the balance of bacteria. If you’re dealing with bloating, flatulence or constipation/diarrhoea after overindulging, incorporate probiotic-rich foods into your diet such as yoghurt, kefir, miso soup and fermented vegetables, as well as a regular probiotic.
- CoQ10
CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant, naturally produced in the body, which protects against free-radical damage and provides your body with energy. It also protects your body from inflammation. Your body’s natural CoQ10 levels decline as you age, particularly if you are physically active, so supplementation is a good idea if the silly season is leaving you feeling drained and sluggish. You could also look for ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10, which is more readily absorbed by your body.
- Vitamin B
Taking a vitamin B supplement can help with nutritional deficiencies often associated with alcohol consumption. Vitamin B3 is important as it is required for the function of ADH and ALDH – two enzymes that are vital for detoxifying alcohol. Taking a multivitamin that includes B Vitamins on a daily basis is a great place to start.
- Water and electrolytes
Hydration is vital for your body to function. Water keeps our body moving – not only does it assist with the digestive process, it aids the removal of accumulated waste via the gut.
Possibly consider an electrolyte replacement containing magnesium and minerals to help avoid dehydration too.
Speak to your healthcare practitioner to find out which supplement is right for you. Always read the label. Use only as directed.
