Tempation is everywhere at Christmas time with gifts of chocolate, office parties, rich sweet cakes, and alcohol to help the celebrations along. Don’t forget all the cured meats, cheeses, decadent grazing boards with possibly a lot of food you don’t normally eat or that can irritate your gut.
We can still incorporate all of the good quality fibres which help our gut bugs promote a more symbioitc environment. Always have lots of vegetable dishes, swapout the gluten crackers for vegetables sticks and GF crackers. The classic potato salad is a great form of prebiotic fibres as the potato is cooked then cooled, which reduces the high GI starches and converts them to gut-loving bacteria.
Nuts are also a rich source of polyphenols and miconutrients, unless you are allergic or already suffer from inflammation.
Alcohol can also result in dehydration, so be sure to drink water in between or have non-alcoholic alternatives throughout the day. Did you know that drinking excessively can make the lining of your gut more penetrable, which can lead to bloating. Especially drinks with a higher alcohol content, it takes the body longer to assimilate, longer to break down the foods, increasing your gas production and feeling of fullness, this can also show up as stomach aches or a puffy face.
Social stress has been shown to negatively impact gut bacteria! Uh-oh! Increased stress can negatively influence the abundance of health promoting bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, via the gut-brain axis. Maybe stock up on some of these wonderful bacteria if you know you will be more stressed at christmas. Also use fermented foods like saurekraut, kim chi or eating prebitoic foods, like pineapple and kiwi fruits.
Some simple tips to look after your gut this Christmas! 
