It's beginning to look a lot like...

I love Christmas.

It is one of the best times of the year to pause and check in with my family and reflect upon the year that was.

And what a year it has been!

Staying Well Through the Silly Season

I feel so gratified to have worked with many amazing people throughout the year. I love hearing my clients report back on their improved well-being. This includes not only better gut health, but also a deeper knowledge of what drives their personal wellness - both from a gut health point of view and also from a mental and emotional perspective as well.

Many of my clients are keen not to undo the good work achieved throughout the year by blowing it on an out-of-control silly season. So, with this in mind, here are my tips to keep you firmly in the driver's seat and in charge of your health and wellbeing this festive season.

How About Some Histamine with That?

Firstly, I am declaring Christmas day an abundant histamine day! You might be wondering, what does this mean?

Well, are you somebody who has ever experienced any of the following?

• Red and swollen eyes
• A rash on…(one or more areas of the body)
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy palate
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightening
• BP issues
• Racing heart
• Asthma
• Eczema flare-ups

These are all signs or symptoms of an over-the-top histamine reaction.

For most people, even those who never seem to suffer from histamine intolerance, Christmas day can present a significant challenge to the gut.

The reality is that everyone has a histamine threshold. This means each person can indeed tip the balance with one too many festive indulgences, which then results in any or all of the above signs and symptoms, which indicate a histamine reaction is occurring.

Knowledge is Power...

A histamine reaction is best avoided. If on reflection you can relate to experiencing any of the above signs or symptoms in the past, the ultimate point is that you would have tipped the balance and exceeded your histamine threshold. This then means you want to consider more carefully your food and beverage choices and you will want to do some damage control.

Here is a list of the biggest histamine triggering culprits:

• Champagne
• Beer
• Wine
• Ham
• Cheese
• Sauces
• Aged meat
• Dried fruit
• Anything red, including vegetables, fruits, and berries

Hmmm...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, isn’t it?

How many of these popular festive options make it onto your Christmas and New Year menus?

As far as your gut is concerned, the more you eat and drink these 'goodies', the greater the histamine load and the potentially serious reactions associated with histamine intolerance.

Celebrate Sensibly

You can absolutely plan ahead and choose to celebrate sensibly. Of course, the less you indulge, the better for your gut and for you.

Reality check. Every year, especially on Christmas day, I receive at least one photo from a client who has worked diligently at following their gut protocol during the year and has been feeling so much better. Sadly, the photo I receive on Christmas day invariably shows at least one of the highly visible consequences of a severe histamine reaction I mentioned earlier.

When asked what the sender of the photo has eaten and drank that day, at least one or more of the biggest histamine triggering culprits are always named.

I get it. I really do. It's 'that' time of year. Many people know what to eat and drink to feel good, but still decide to indulge in foods and beverages they would be wiser to avoid anyway.

Does this sound like you? If your answer is 'yes', here are my top tips for celebrating the silly season and feeling better through it all.

My Top 5 Tips for Celebrating Sensibly

1. If you know you are a big reactor, then consider starting the day with an antihistamine, such as Claratyne or Telfast

2. Also consider taking natural histamine reducing supplements, such as magnesium, vitamin C, and quercetin

3. Aim to include histamine lowering foods in the mix, such as:

• Capers
• Brown rice
• Mint
• Ginger

4. Prepare and drink a pot of nettle or tulsi tea over the course of the day

5. Most importantly alkalise – do this up to 5 times daily, especially on occasions such as Christmas and New Year day

Important and Potentially Life-Saving Advice

If you are somebody who can turn quickly into an allergy case, then be aware.

Be extra careful too.

If you are experiencing any severe or life-threatening symptoms – don’t send me a photo or message – get yourself to the emergency department FAST!

The last thing anyone wants for Christmas is a medical emergency, but it can and does happen.