IT’S safe to say that Christmas is one of the most gluttonous days of the year.
And thankfully, one day of enjoying not-so-nutritious food isn’t going to have a detrimental impact on our health.
However, we all know the party season lasts longer than 24 hours.
Over time, it can take its toll on our digestive systems, with symptoms such as bloating, irregular bowel movements and heartburn.
Dietitians don’t want us to ditch the mince pies, mulled wine and cheese platters completely, but there are some ways to switch things up to benefit our wellbeing.
Orla Stone, gut health specialist at Deeply, said: “We know that the healthy bacteria living in our guts will be affected by our food choices, drinking too much alcohol and getting less sleep and exercise.
“These gut bacteria are not only crucial for our gut health, but also our whole-body health, immunity, and even our mental wellbeing, as a result of the strong gut brain connection.
“Changes in our gut bacteria can happen over just a few days, so the best way to fight off the January blues is by being aware of our gut health over the festive period, and putting in place as many healthy habits as possible to set you up for the New Year.”
The best way to do this, she added, is to ramp up our fibre intake, and ensure we’re getting plenty of vitamins D3 and B9.
Here, Orla shares her top 10 gut-friendly festive food and drink swaps to help beat the post-Christmas funk.
It can be tempting to empty a few big bags of crisps into bowls when you’re having people over around Christmas.
They’re cheap, easy to share, and let’s face it, they taste great!
“But crisps are ultra-processed and have little nutritional value,” Orla said.
She recommends ditching your favourite bags in favour of mixed nuts, which contain “wonderful prebiotics and fibre to feed your gut bacteria”.
Her favourite varieties include chestnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds.
“If you feel like some chocolate while you’re watching your favourite Christmas movie, go for at least 70 per cent dark over white or milk,” Orla said.
“Dark chocolate contains more cocoa than milk chocolate (white chocolate has none).
“It’s this cocoa that contains the polyphenols – a plant chemical that your gut bacteria love to feed on.”
Another simple swap is making your own spice blends instead of relying on syrups to make your drinks taste Christmassy.
Orla said: “Sugary syrups have no nutritional benefit, but your gut bacteria love spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
“Steer clear of spice-flavoured syrups and experiment with adding your own spices to your drinks.”
Quick, a dietitian is recommending cake!
Orla said yule logs contain fat and sugar, and not much else – both of which are “inflammatory ingredients”.
Christmas cake on the other hand is laden with a “wonderful mix of dried fruit and almonds”, which can help support your gut bacteria.
“It provides your bacteria with polyphenols and prebiotic fibre to help them to thrive,” Orla added.
If you’re experiencing bloating, you tummy might be straining against your jeans and you’ll be unmistakably uncomfortable.
You might also feel a bit more gassy than usual and your stomach could be emit some concerning gurgling sounds.
An accumulation of gas in your gut from fizzy drinks or wind-producing veggies could be to blame.
But persistent bloating might also indicate a problem with your digestion caused by conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerances and Coeliac disease.
Here are some NHS-approved tips to reduce it:
See a GP if you’ve been feeling bloated for three weeks or more, you often feel bloated despite changing your diet, you’ve felt a lump in your tummy or you have symptoms like sickness, diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss and blood in your poo.
Source: NHS
If you want to serve a fancy mid-morning snack on Christmas Day, why not try salmon on sourdough bread?
“Plain, white bread is of little nutritive value, whereas sourdough bread provides your gut with live bacteria due to the natural fermentation process that it undergoes,” Orla said.
“Smoked salmon is a great source of omega 3 fats, another nutrient which has been shown to support the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut.”
Our guts love variety, Orla said, so a stuffing recipe with several ingredients instead of just a couple is a winner.
Instead of a plain sausage meat one, the nutrition consultant suggested a recipe revolving around red onion, celery, apricots, almonds and wholemeal bread.
“Red onions are rich in polyphenols, while apricots and almonds are a great source of prebiotics, both of which help your gut bacteria to thrive,” she added.
“Instead of crackers, why not have crunchy vegetable sticks and hummus?” Orla said.
“Crackers are ultra-processed and contain little to no fibre.
“You can get the same great crunch from some fibre-rich raw vegetables and a nutritious dipping of hummus.”
Hummus is made from chickpeas, which Orla said are rich in a fibre called resistant starch, which gut bacteria love to feast on.
Yes, drenching desserts in single or double cream is a decadent experience – but it’s not great for our insides.
Instead, pour a fermented milk drink known as kefir or Greek yoghurt instead.
“Kefir and Greek yoghurt are great gut-friendly alternatives to cream,” Orla said.
“They both contain live bacteria which support your gut health.”
It might sound like a tricky switch, but Orla advises ditching your glass of prosecco for one of kombucha.
Kombucha is a fermented black tea drink that has a slightly acidic flavour and fizz.
“Your gut bacteria love anything fermented, so they will love this bubbly drink,” she said.
“You still get the bubbles, but without the gut-damaging effects.”
Finally, Orla reckons it’s worth swapping beer and white wine for red wine – particularly the mulled kind (and bonus points if it’s non-alcoholic).
“Beer and white wine have no benefit for your gut bacteria,” she said.
“Limiting your alcohol intake is an important part of supporting your gut health, but if you do drink, opt for a red or mulled wine over beer or white wine.
“The grapes used to make red wine contain polyphenols, which our gut bacteria love.”
