Thanksgiving Feast? Holiday Parties? If there is one thing we see a lot of during the holidays it’s food. With all that food around, we sometimes overindulge and eat more than normal, resulting in indigestion, heartburn, gas and bloating. But with a little planning, you can alleviate uncomfortable (and even embarrassing) digestive issues and enjoy your holidays even more. Here are 4 tips for staving off digestive upset.

1. Don’t deprive yourself. You CAN load your plate with tasty food, just take smaller spoonfuls of each dish so you don’t feel deprived.  Make the bulk of your plate vegetables. If you are making or contributing to the meal, offer some roasted fresh vegetables, like brussel sprouts and carrots, as a healthy option.
2. Slow down. Eat more consciously, taking time to chew and enjoy the flavors, and to enjoy the company at the table.
3. Pass the enzymes! Enzymes are compounds that break down large food molecules into smaller structures that make the body work. A lack of enzymes can result in difficulty digesting food, ending in indigestion, gas and bloating. An enzyme complex can help enhance digestion and alleviate some common digestive issues. Another option is ginger, an herb that helps ease indigestion and nausea.
4. Get quick relief from minerals. If you do end up with indigestion and heartburn, take a chewable mineral tablet with calcium carbonate and magnesium to help buffer the acid in the stomach, reducing irritation as well as soothing sore stomach tissue. These minerals will not interfere with the normal and very essential gastric acid secretions, as many over-the-counter medications do.

This holiday, enjoy food, family, and friends, and keep those tummy troubles away!