It’s that time of year again…already! Thanksgiving has just passed us and we are now in the full swing of the Holiday Season, which means uber amounts of parties, food, food gifts, and did I say food? This is the time of the year that I just want to EAT ALL THE THINGS!!! I would not like myself very much though if I just gave in and did that. Maybe in the moment I’d love myself but afterwards I would loathe what I did. I’m sure I am not alone on this journey…right? That’s why I am sharing some thoughts on surviving the Holiday Food Season.
I know many of you have heard us talk (and talk, lol) about how gluten is not good for us. This time of year gluten seems to be more prevalent (can we say baked goods galore?) so I’m going to remind you why it’s bad. I’m a good friend like that. Gluten is found wheat and other baked goods. It’s essentially the “glue” that makes all those things so yummy and good. However, it is known to cause irritation and inflammation to our gut linings. When this occurs, we have trouble absorbing essential vitamins & minerals and our bodies go into an anti-inflammatory response(think auto-immune, attacking itself) which can cause all sorts of symptoms. Some of the major ones are swelling, aches & pains, headaches, fatigue, cloudiness, bloating, weight gain….you see where I’m going with this. Gluten really is no good for us, especially here in the US since everything is so heavily modified and covered with pesticides, etc.
The next problem child during this time of year is SUGAR!!! It shows up everywhere with all those adorable homemade cookies and brownies and pies…SIGH. (This is my biggest problem area…I’ll admit it). It’s so darn addicting too…I don’t know about you but once I start, it’s hard to stop. Sugar is truly an all or nothing relationship; you either have to cut it out 100% or you’re always going to crave it and have more. Studies have been done that show it’s just as addicting as cocaine!!! It lights up the same exact pleasure centers in our brains, and when we don’t have some for a bit, a vicious cycle of craving and feeding these centers starts. That’s why it’s so hard to break to the addiction and why you truly can’t just have a little bit. It’s a slippery slope once you have that little taste. Sugar is also very destructive to our bodies, it plays a role in a lot of major health problems like heart disease, infections, cancer, diabetes, weight issues, etc. Amazing how something that can taste so sweet can be so evil to us.
So you’re probably wondering what my tips are other than just stay away from these things right? The first and foremost one is to not consume either of these things. Realistically though, it is the holidays and we all get in the spirit of baking and consuming said baked goods. So the biggest tip I have for you is to make sure you have baked goods that don’t contain gluten or sugar! How, you ask? There are mountains of Paleo desserts out there (and they are YUMMY!) that are right in line with this. Paleo does not use any gluten (or any grains for that matter) and definitely does not use any sugar, so they would be the “healthiest” dessert/baked goods for you this season. They are not only a healthier option, but they taste AMAZING too! You could even whip up a batch of paleo chocolate chip cookies, paleo peppermint patties, or paleo gingersnaps to bring to your next holiday party! For those of you who are internet savvy, you can do an easy search on Pinterest of Paleo Holiday Desserts and get lost in all the wondrous treats that pop up. Those that aren’t as internet savvy, here are a few of our favorite Paleo websites to search for recipes:
–www.civilizedcavemancooking.com
You can also check out our lending library and rent one of the Paleo cookbooks we have on hand. I only covered two major foods in this blog that aren’t good for us, but there’s also soy, corn, peanuts and others that can be problems for us. If you are interested in learning more about why these foods are harmful to us, check out our workshop schedule. We have some amazing workshops covering 7 Sinister Foods, Cleansing, and Paleo Lifestyle all more in depth in the upcoming year. Until next time, have a wonderful Holiday Season and hope I’ve helped you stay healthier through it!
-Dr. Jen
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