Ah, January. The exact time of year it feels like a good idea to reach for a chilled, leafy green juice, and also the exact time of year your brain screams “lasagna!” on cue at 6 p.m. every night. (Blame the Polar Vortex.)
If you’re feeling sluggish and bloated after the holidays, you’re not alone—but it is possible to detox and still get the comforting coziness your body craves.
How? By eating a diet rich in inflammation-fighting, gut-healthy foods that will leave you warm and satisfied, and incorporating a detox aid that will flush out toxins (because they’re impossible to avoid).
Gut health often takes a backseat to liver health when people think detox (especially after a few months of mulled wine), but according to holistic nutritionist Lisa Kilgour, taking care of your digestive system is actually the key to maximizing overall health.
“We are 90 percent bacteria, and research has found a link between the health of this ecosystem and our immune system, brain, and even our metabolism,” Kilgour says. “Our cells are made out of the food we eat and the nutrients we absorb.”
In other words, keeping your gut light on toxins and loaded with good bacteria will keep everything else in your body functioning properly, which is why a digestion-friendly cleanse is extra important as you make your way into the new year.
To do it right, fill your daily menu with bacteria-promoting foods like sauerkraut, bitter greens, and apple cider vinegar. It can also help to add a cleansing formula to help your body get rid of toxins and further stimulate digestion. Kilgour’s go-to? Flora Health’s Flor-Essence.
The herbal tea blend is loaded with antioxidants, gut-healing herbs like slippery elm and burdock root, and digestion stimulators like kelp that will kick your system into gear.
“Flor-Essence is a great addition to create a healthy body,” says Kilgour. It’s low maintenance—all you have to do is drink two ounces mixed in warm water in the morning and at night—and the gentle formula won’t wreak havoc on your insides (AKA keep you stuck in the office bathroom).
Combined with the right diet tweaks, you can get your body functioning at max capacity without cutting all of the flavors you love. So we tapped Kilgour to share three easy recipes that get top marks in both the inflammation-fighting and mouth-watering departments.
Ready to kick off 2017 as your most energized self? Check out these three super-satisfying cold-weather dishes that are gut-friendly.
This article and images were published on Well + Good.
