‘Tis the season of hustle and bustle. All the festive parties, food, eggnog, cookies exchanges, cocktails, late nights and shopping may have you feeling slightly stressed, exhausted and maybe a little soft around the midsection. Here’s what you should drink this holiday season to look and feel your best:
1. If you’ve had t oo much food: dandelion root tea
Invited to one too many holiday dinners — all in the same night? Unable to step away from the buffet table? Promise yourself you’ll stick with crudité, but end up loading up everything wrapped in a puff pastry? Yes, this happens. And when it does, our once flat tummies now look like they’re six-months pregnant. In addition, our stomach begins to hurt, and we’re too full to sleep, which makes you feel even worse. In addition to the obvious (trying to eat less), sipping on d andelion root tea can help. Dandelion root improves the production of hydrochloric acid (also known as HCL, or stomach acid), which helps digest food and alleviate discomfort. Have a cup before you head out to dinner and a couple of hours after for best results.
2. If you’ve gotten too little sleep: morning green smoothie
If you’re rushing from one late-night party to another, hitting those midnight madness shopping frenzies or running on four hours of sleep, a green smoothie is a must-have in your daily arsenal. Green smoothies are rich in iron and chlorophyll, which helps boost energy and increase nutrient delivery to your cells, so you can feel your best and are able to get the most out of your day. One morning smoothie can pack 20 grams of protein, keeping you energized and fueled throughout the day.
3. If you’re too stressed: holy basil tea
If the holidays are stressing you out more than you would like, reach for some holy basil tea. Holy basil (also known as tulsi) is a herbal plant that has the ability to lower cortisol and blood sugar levels — that is, help our bodies cope with stress. Holy basil is an adaptogen, meaning it doesn’t directly affect your mood, but it does help your body respond to stress, anxiety and depression by normalizing neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Research has shown that ursolic acid and the triterpenoic acids, both found in holy basil, effectively improve the body’s response to stress and reduce the amount of cortisol released during stress. A cup before bed, and even mid-day, is good measure to help keep you calm.
4. If you’ve had too many cocktails: coconut water
Overindulging with too many cocktails can have you feeling pretty crumby the next day, impacting your performance and ability to do pretty much anything. Dehydration is the main culprit for feeling horrible after too much eggnog, so it’s important to hydrate between festive libations. One of the best things to hydrate with is coconut water. Coconut water is an exceptional source of electrolytes, similar to our own blood plasma, which makes for immediate hydration and nutrient absorption. It helps keep you energized and hydrated any time of the day. If you’re feeling sluggish, sipping on coconut water might just be the trick to get you from empty to energized — plus, it prevents the dreaded hangover. Sip in between cocktails, and/or drink a full glass before bed and throughout the night.
5. If you’re had too much sugar: tea, please!
Over-consumption of sugar is inevitable during the holidays. With gingerbread, Christmas cookies and candy canes abound, who could resist? Besides the obvious — trying to avoid the sweet surrender all together — if you do get that sugar high, bilberry tea can help. Bilberries (which closely resemble wild blueberries) help balance blood sugar levels and reduce sugar cravings, and can even have a positive effect on diabetes. Bilberry is an extremely rich source of chromium, a mineral that helps maintain normal blood sugar and insulin levels and reduces carb cravings. Bilberry leaves are particularly rich in tannins and myrtillin, a compound that also controls blood sugar levels.
More from U.S. News
Everything You Need to Know About Peppermint
10 Ways to Avoid Winter Joint Pain
What to Drink During 5 Common Holiday Scenarios originally appeared on usnews.com
