How to Avoid Holiday Bloat – Without Feeling Deprived

Morristown, NJ, November 15, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Christine Grasso, Holistic Nutrition Coach, knows that the holidays are the #1 most stressful season for women, especially those struggling with weight loss or that uncomfortable bloated feeling. The experts agree that one of the most important factors in weight loss is stress reduction.

Emotional stress increases the presence of the stress hormone, cortisol. Food allergens, like gluten, dairy, and eggs, can also be a cause of this increased cortisol and inflammation in the body.

Cortisol “increases insulin which can inhibit weight loss and actually increase belly fat,” and “dampens [the] ability to receive pleasure and satisfaction from food,” shares author and physician, Dr. Mark Hyman.

Here’s some ways women can avoid that stress and holiday bloat:

Get plenty of rest and relaxation. If you are sleeping well and prioritizing down time for yourself, you will stay well. Set aside some time to light a candle and say a silent prayer or meditation when you are feeling un-balanced.

2. 2. Don’t starve yourself before a party. This will kick your body into
survival mode and then when you do eat, all that food will be stored as fat. Instead, eat a light meal before a party and fill your plate with veggies when you first arrive. Then, indulge in the decadent foods in moderation.

Add greens like kale, swiss chard, and broccoli to the holiday menu. Try kale chips for a crunchy appetizer that everyone will love. Serve fish or roasted veggies on a bed of lacinato kale. Use broccoli in your veggie platter. Greens boost your immune system and are packed with Vitamin C to keep you healthy.
Identify your problem foods, like wheat, dairy, eggs, or soy. These foods can be causing your un-solved health problems, like bloating, fatigue, and stubborn weight.

Enjoy food and eat mindfully. It takes 20 minutes for the belly to tell the brain that you are full. When you eat without distractions, slow down, and chew your food really well you will feel satisfied with less food.

Grasso shares, “When I identified my hidden food allergens, reduced my stress, and added in healthy foods like greens, I went from a size 12 to a size 2. I also got rid of my acid reflux and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).”

Christine Grasso, Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach and Food Allergy Expert, is located at Body in Mind, 140 Morris Street, Morristown. Contact Grasso at (201) 787-4950 or info@christinegrasso.com. Visit www.ChristineGrasso.com to get her top 10 tips to boost energy and her favorite energy-boosting, waistline-busting recipes.