At Christmas time, as part of the festive celebrations, many of us like to make sure we are fully stocked on everyone’s favourite tipple. Whether it’s a steaming mug of hot chocolate after a frosty walk, Bucks Fizz for a festive breakfast or a fine brandy after dinner, there are lots of great choices out there. But the truth is that not many of them are good for your gut health. Which is why we thought we’d give you a helping hand with some healthy Christmas drink recipes that can provide a healthy and nutritious alternative to yet another glass of eggnog.
Why Gut Health Matters This Christmas
At Christmas, we want to be fighting fit so that we can enjoy all the festivities. But all too often the indulgent food and drink we consume during the festive period can leave us lacking in energy, suffering from symptoms of indigestion and bloating, and even impacting our mental health.
Alcohol is known to affect the gut microbiome by changing the balance of bacteria.[i] This can take the gut microbiome from a state of homeostasis, where everything is happy and calm, into a state of dysbiosis where things start to tip out of balance.
The gut microbiome is a big part of how our body metabolises what we eat and drink along with the medications we take. It works in balance with the liver, helping to manage the amount of ethanol or toxins that impact our overall health.
Drinking too much alcohol can cause gastritis, making us genuinely sick to our stomach and leading to vomiting and diarrhoea - simply because we’re overwhelming our system.[ii]
By giving a helping hand to the good bacteria found in our gut microbiome, we can support our immune system, our mood, and our digestive processes[iii] to make Christmas happier and more comfortable for our overall health and gut.
What to Drink for Gut Health This Christmas
So, if you are looking to find a nutritious drink to help promote good gut health this Christmas, what should you try?
There are a wide range of fermented beverages, probiotic rich drinks and detoxifying options available that can be a great way to balance out some of the Christmas treats. Keep an eye out for ingredients such as kombucha or kefir, as these can help to improve your digestion as they are all capable of having a probiotic effect that can restore the balance of bacteria in your gut.[iv] There are also some great teas including peppermint, and ginger which can help the muscle of the bowel wall to relax and ease symptoms such as bloating[v].
Healthy Christmas Drink Recipe for Gut Health
One fantastic Christmas drink that tastes great whilst also supporting your gut microbiome is a Ginger-Kefir Christmas Punch.
Simply peel and mince a small piece of ginger and add it to kefir milk along with a couple of pinches of cinnamon and the juice of half a lemon. For an extra hit of flavour, mix in some pomegranate seeds[vi] and enjoy a fragrant and festive drink. You can even add things like peppermint or cranberry for a little extra holiday cheer.
This punch can be fantastic as kefir is known to be a source of many different nutrients, making it a more powerful probiotic than yoghurt. Kefir can contain as many as 61 different strains of bacteria and yeasts to create a rich and diverse probiotic source[vii]. Ginger is also known for adding efficient digestion meaning that it can help to cut down on issues like bloating[viii].
The Best Probiotic Drink for Gut Health
When it comes to creating a probiotic drink for gut health, it is very difficult to ignore the benefits of kefir. Made from the fermented milk of a cow, goat, or sheep, kefir is low in lactose and contains plenty of good bacteria including Lactobacillus kefiri as well as different types of yeast.[ix]
Kombucha is another popular choice as it is also rich in many probiotics which can help your gut microbiome to thrive. It is a drink made from a combination of either black or green tea, sugar, healthy bacteria and yeast which is then left to ferment[x]. Don’t fancy it on its own? You could combine it with some unsweetened cranberry juice and a sprig of rosemary to make the perfect Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail.
Detox Drinks for Gut Health
Christmas is renowned for being a time of indulgence, and we can all over-do the treats during the festive season. So you might find that your body will benefit from of a bit of a detox.
A lemon-cucumber water drink is a great way to give your body a much needed pick me up. Simply add some thinly sliced cucumber, lemon and mint sprigs to water and let it sit for at least half an hour to bring out all of the flavours.[xi] This drink is great for giving your body some much needed hydration. For some extra gut benefits, you could experiment with adding a little turmeric or ginger.
Best Morning Drink for Gut Health
Throughout the festive season, it can be important to make sure that you start the day in the right way with a morning drink for gut health. Try to factor in a delicious morning drink such as warm lemon water, apple cider vinegar or a green smoothie that has been packed with gut healthy ingredients like prebiotics to really set the tone for the rest of the day. These drinks can be very important when it comes to kickstarting the digestive system and giving it a gentle cleanse, getting it ready for whatever indulgences might lie ahead.
Drink Your Way to Better Gut Health This Christmas
Christmas should fun, but not be at the expense of your gut health. There are a number of drinks that you can work into your daily routine that can help support your gut microbiome, helping it to thrive even in the midst of a season of rich foods and drinks.
Take the time to experiment with a few different recipes to find the one that works best for you and your gut so that you can still enjoy all of your favourite festive treats.
And if you want to be sure you’re taking the best care of your gut health during Christmas, you can also incorporate our range of supplements into your diet, providing you with some extra support in one easy dose.
Sources
- https://www.pushdoctor.co.uk/nutrition-advice/the-benefits-of-gut-bacteria
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/nutrition/health-benefits-of-fermenting
- https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/peppermint-oil/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IwALF4-zVU
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-health-benefits-of-kefir
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ginger-benefits
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/kefir-good-for-you
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-kombuchas-health-benefits-and-how-much-can-you-safely-drink
- https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/quick-easy-detox-lemon-cucumber-water/
