Christmas and New Year’s are truly a magical time of year when we (hopefully) recall and are grateful for our blessings and spend time with loved ones and friends.

However, the holidays also present an abundance of opportunities for you to indulge in foods and drinks that are not-so-great for your health (or your waist).

But never fear! 

Because you CAN enjoy holiday indulgences without putting on 10 pounds or completely derailing your health goals.

Here’s how:

1- Balance it out

The holidays are known for large family dinners featuring lots of delicious foods and desserts, and there’s no reason to deprive yourself of a spectacular meal.  So go ahead and enjoy your dinner.

Just balance it out the next day with healthy simpler meals, such as soups and salads, plus lots of fruits and vegetables.

Also, remember that rich meals typically lead to heartburn and gas, but you can stay feeling great with a natural heartburn and indigestion remedy such as Gastro BeCalm Blend.

Gastro BeCalm Blend eases digestive discomfort with four of Nature’s most effective, proven and potent herbs—mastic gum, marshmallow root, ginger root and DGL licorice root. 

This awesome herbal blend helps soothe, calm and quiet a cranky stomach and pave the way for more comfortable digestion, and less heartburn and discomfort.

2- Control the booze

There’s nothing wrong with having some “holiday cheer,” but be smart about it.

Alternate cocktails with a glass of water, club soda with lemon or lime, or unsweetened iced tea.  Not only will this keep the calorie tally lower, but will also help prevent overindulgence.

And if you do happen to have more than you should, stick to primarily water the next day.  Also, the B vitamins in Hydroxaden 2.5 Vitamin B spray can help your body fight back against the sluggishness you may be feeling.    

3- Counteract the sugar

The holidays are known for yummy Christmas cookies, pies, eggnog, and candy, but unfortunately all that sugar is devastating to your gut.

Sugar is nourishment for harmful bacteria and yeasts, which in turn causes gas and bloating plus weakens your immune function.

But you can support your gut and help it bounce back from holiday sugary treats with Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula!

Super Shield’s variety of 13 robust probiotic strains help beef up and support the friendly bacteria in your microbiome, so it can keep the upper hand over harmful microbes, promote sound immune function, and pave the way for normal, healthy BMs.

4- Work in some movement

Exercise is always important, but especially around the holidays when your calorie intake is typically greater than usual. 

In addition, the holidays can be stressful, but exercise is the best natural stress reducer!

If you’re limited on time, get creative!  Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator, go for a walk during your lunch hour, park far away from the door at the shopping center (if it is safe), or do push-ups, sit-ups or plank during commercials while watching TV.

You can always work in some movement if you use your imagination.

5- Forgive yourself

If indulgences get the best of you this holiday season, don’t dwell on it. 

Forgive yourself, move on, strive to do better next time, and get back on the road to creating good health.

And now for the recipe!

Here is a recipe for a super-nutritious, healing soup that is one of my family’s favorites!

It’s loaded with yummy vegetables and tender beef and is just what you might need after a lot of rich foods and sweets.

BEEFY VEGETABLE SOUP

Serves: 6-8

2 lbs. beef stew meat
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
8 cups beef broth or stock, divided
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon organic Better than Bouillon beef base (or 1 beef bouillon cube)
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tablespoon dried
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
3 celery ribs, sliced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup fresh or frozen peas

Pat the stew meat dry and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot set over medium-high heat. Add the meat and cook until brown on all sides.

Once the meat has been browned, lower the heat to medium and add a little more olive oil to the pot if necessary, then add the onion stirring often until the onion is fragrant and becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Add 2 cups of the broth or stock, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, tomatoes, beef base or bouillon and spices and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down, cover and simmer slowly for 2 1/2 hours until meat is very tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.

Add remaining broth or stock, carrots, celery, beans and fresh peas (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered until the vegetables are tender, about 35-45 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the frozen peas (if using) and stir gently. Allow the soup to sit about 5 minutes and serve.

The holidays truly are magical…and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy yourself or feel guilty, especially since you can help your body bounce back!

May God bless you and your family this holiday season and all year long.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia