4 Ways to Feel Amazing during the Holiday Season
Guest Post written by Joy McCarthy a Holistic Nutritionist and founder of JoyousHealth.com
Tis the season for celebrating! Whether your calendar is packed with fancy holiday parties or low key casual family gatherings, you no doubt want to feel and look your best all season long. I’ve got four beauty hacks that I personally swear by to help you do just that. The theme of all my hacks are beauty from the inside out.
1 Take care of your digestive system
According to survey conducted by Dr. Rashini Raj, a gastroenterologist at NYU, up to 74% of North Americans suffer from digestive problems. During the holidays this skyrockets due to overindulgence, coupled with an increase in stress. Overeating and stress are a recipe for poor digestive function. As stress hormones increase, stomach acid (an essential chemical for protein digestion and an antimicrobial agent) decreases. This may translate to bloating, gas and constipation. Raw apple cider vinegar (acv) is a quick solution for acute symptoms. Add 1 tbsp of acv to a small glass (¼ cup) of water when you’re experiencing symptoms. You can also use it to prevent digestive problems by drinking it prior to a meal. ACV stimulates gastric secretions and strengthens your digestive fire. It can provide immediate relief for bloating and gas.
2 Eat your hydration
I won’t bore you with the same age old advice of drink at least two to three litres of water daily because you already know if you want to have clear, fresh looking skin, you’ve gotta stay hydrated! This means if you’re drinking alcohol which is extremely dehydrating, drink a glass of water between every beverage. A great way to hydrate through the holidays beyond water is through the foods you eat daily. This is especially important to consider in the winter when you naturally gravitate towards warm foods that are baked, roasted or fried, essentially “dry” foods. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, smoothies, soups and stews – all of these are hydrating options.
3 Drink green stuff
Green superfood powders can help reduce toxins in the body. Excess toxicity in the body hampers your beauty. When toxins aren’t being flushed out by the liver, they can show up on your skin. Look for a green superfood powder that contains algaes like chlorella and spirulina and grasses like barley, alfalfa and wheat grass, all of which contain chlorophyll, the compound that makes plants green. Chlorophyll can help prevent the formation and absorption of toxic chemical compounds. The benefits of detoxing go beyond just your beauty! I’ve heard from countless people who’ve done the Joyous Detox in my book that their energy has increased, their digestive problems disappeared and inflammation was reduced.
4 Dry Skin Brush
This ancient method of detoxification has been practiced for centuries around the world, including India, Russia and Scandinavia. Your skin is your largest organ of elimination and dry brushing it prior to a bath or a shower is an effective way to stimulate the lymphatic system. This improves the flow of lymph fluid which assists in the removal of waste from the body. Choose a natural bristle brush and brush your skin in a light circular motion towards the heart. Spend more time where you have lymph nodes and avoid your nipples and face. I will talk about this more in my seminar at Encircled in January!
Wishing you a beautiful and healthy holiday season!
Joy xo
About Joy
Joy McCarthy is a Holistic Nutritionist and founder of JoyousHealth.com, an award-winning blog focused on healthy living, and a two-time bestselling author of Joyous Health and Joyous Detox. A trusted nutrition expert, Joy has been featured in hundreds of publications both online and in print; and is a regular health expert on TV. Joy lives in Toronto with her husband Walker and their daughter Vienna. Joy loves social media and shares her passion for food, family and fun as a way to channel positive energy into the lives of others. You can find her @joyoushealth on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and on Facebook.
Photos (c) Joy McCarthy from joyoushealth.com. Published with permission.
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