Josh and  I have been very fortunate to remain healthy through every single holiday season together- we have never missed a Thanksgiving or Christmas due to one of us getting sick. And don’t worry- this blog post will have absolutely nothing to do with vaccines- I think you are hit with that enough through every other news outlet as is (make your own decisions, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk).

Let’s jump into my top five tips to remaining as healthy as possible during the next 6 weeks!

1. Healthy Food Choices

   • It is absolutely no secret that when your diet isn’t where it should be, your immune system can take a hit. I love holiday food and I DO NOT limit myself on Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, or at any of our Christmas / holiday events. That being said, in roughly 6 weeks- the days I just mentioned don’t even tally up to a week. So the other 5 weeks, I am spot on with my diet. I do not take sweets or leftovers home. I stick to my diet (or meal plan, whatever you want to call it), on ALL OF THE OTHER DAYS during the holiday season. This way, I can fully enjoy my time with my family and friends without feeling like I am limiting myself. When you truly break it down, events and parties and family gatherings probably don’t equate to more than a week for you, either.
   • On the day of- I always prioritize protein as well. I make sure my plate is at least 1/4 protein at every meal. When not pregnant, I fast the day until the big meal begins- then it’s a free for all (this simply allows me to condense my calories into fewer larger meals, which I prefer)
   • Using a fiber supplement before a large meal will really help keep you from over-indulging (the point of the holidays isn’t to gorge). Fiber will also help keep your digestion on point as well. And as we all know, 70% of your immune system stems from your gut- so let’s keep that as healthy as possible

2. Gut and Immune System Supplements

   • As stated above, 70% of our immune system stems from our gut. It is imperative to incorporate the following supplements into your daily routine to have a healthy gut all year round, but especially during the holidays:
     • Probiotics
     • Immunity
     • Fiber
     • Colon Cleanse
     • Greens
     • Glutamine
   • A detailed write up for each supplement, including the formula breakdown, cam be found on each product page

3. Stress

   • Stress and rising cortisol levels can reek havoc on our immune systems, not just during the holidays- but 24/7. It is vital to keep cortisol as low as possible! I have created gift guides for almost everyone in your life is your added stress is due to buying gifts- you can check those out here
   • There are also several natural at home remedies for stress, such as ashwagandha, l-theanine (found in our sleep formula), and magnesium (linked below)

4. Sleep

   • Prepping for the holidays usually means other areas of life have to be sacrificed, especially if you are hosting or having to travel far for family gatherings. However, not getting enough sleep is one of the biggest contributing factors to a weakened immune system. If you are having trouble sleeping during this time, I recommend checking out our SLEEP formula product 
   • If you are pregnant, I recommend adding in a magnesium supplement to help with sleep (pending doctor approval)

5. Activity

   • Again, it’s no secret that remaining active has a positive effect our immune system, healthy weight, muscle mass, etc. During the holidays is not a time to skip your workouts, even though I know it’s cold and it’s more difficult to get to the gym when you have a million things going on. Trust me, I get it- especially with a toddler and being pregnant. I do recommend always aiming for 10,000 steps a day- yes, you will still see me hit my step goal even on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I simply just feel better when I am moving my body
   • If you are still in need of Christmas ideas for yourself, I recommend checking out my home gym blog as it will eliminate almost every excuse to skip the gym during the winter months
   • Walking after a large meal can also drastically improve digestion as well, even for just 15-20 minutes