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Healthy Eating: Cleaning Up Your Act After the Holidays

By HERWriter
 
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Healthy Eating related image Photo: Getty Images

When you think about it, kicking off a New Year right after the holiday season is an excellent idea. And it's a dandy time to make resolutions for healthier living. Because right now, so many of us need it.

Many of us tossed aside sensible eating for a period of time. And during that intense period of time, what we thought was a great idea to put in our mouths suffered a disconnect from real life and real consequences.

Feeling a bit sluggish? Stomach upset, and maybe a bit ... squashed in the ol' jeans? Things a little ... crowded behind the waistband?

Yeah. It's the backlash that so often comes after holiday parties and family dinners and a prodigious quantity of traditional treats and desserts meant to thrill rather than nourish.

If you're feeling bad, maybe that's good. I don't mean that in a vindictive way. I just mean, feeling bad can add some real steam to a resolution that you're going to treat your body better.

Chances are, you really want to do this because you really don't like how you feel. And that's a great way to start the detoxification process.

You may go all-out with a detoxification program, or you may just decide to do some strategic tweaking to your diet. Either way, it's a smart idea.

Lots of water will help flush toxins and aid in dropping any unwanted holiday pounds. For increased results, squeeze a little lemon juice in that water, or drop in a lemon slice (preferably with the skin removed to avoid pesticide and any other chemicals on it).

And this would also be a great time to expand your repertoire of herbal teas. Chamomile has a reputation for being calming, and it can help relieve indigestion and bloating. Peppermint or ginger tea are also soothing to bloating and indigestion.

Fruits and vegetables will assist the detoxification process. If you juice them, so much the better. Your body can better absorb the nutrients this way.

Mind you, none of this sensible advice will do you any good unless you cut out a few things. Sugar, unhealthy fats and processed foods in general will just bog you down. Chocolate, pastries and leftover candy canes nestled in your purse are all just pretty invitations to trouble.

Face it. A cup of ginger tea with a celery chaser may not seem very seductive. But they'll point you in the direction of better health. If you keep that in mind, they can start to look pretty darned good.

Visit Jody's website and blog at http://www.ncubator.ca and http://ncubator.ca/blogger

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Anonymous

Oh is it ever time to cut out a few things. With health-care in its current and perhaps future condition, none of us can afford to go around eating junk!

Ken D Berry MD
(Link removed by EmpowHER moderator.)

January 10, 2011 - 5:49pm

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Jody Smith
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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