This week I’m on vacation with a couple of other families.
Ice cream is a major food group on trips like this!
While my kid was growing up, trips meant I would prep & pack duplicates of everything in gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sugar versions - totally worth it at the time.
He’s a teenager now - goes where he wants & eats what he wants - so I’m off the hook.
Which means… I’m eating the ice cream.
But how, exactly, am I going to eat ice cream and…ahem…keep things flowing?
Dairy is one of the most common causes of constipation! (source, source)
Add in more sugar, less fiber, travel, different meal times, maybe a little less water and a lot less sleep, and you’ve got a recipe for serious gut discomfort.
Good thing I have a few (nearly) foolproof tricks that help me enjoy vacation food and keep my digestive system flowing.
You can use them, too!
Magnesium bibsglycinate is a vacation must-have, because it helps with sleep, calm and supports softer stool & motility (source, source). Triple win!
Vitamin C is a great choice when you’re eating more sugar and traveling, because it supports your immune system and helps soften stool - in high doses, it can be used for “clean-outs” (source)
So when I know I’m going to be eating more ice cream than usual, I make sure I’m getting plenty of both. (See my favorites here for 25% off »)
First thing in the morning, before I eat anything, I drink a glass of very warm water with a pinch of sea salt.
Simple, peaceful, warming, anchoring.
It’s a simple way to get fluids & electrolytes flushing your gut & naturally stimulating gentle, cleansing peristalsis (source), before coffee, breakfast, 2nd breakfast…
Plus, of course, hydration supports regularity.
Vacation food isn’t exactly known for being loaded with fiber.
There might be plenty of burgers, fries, pizza and ice cream, but not necessarily a lot of vegetables, beans, seeds and other foods that normally keep your digestive system happy.
And it’s so easy to bring some extra support!
For me, that might be fiber or PectaSol.
I also like to bring a traditional Ayurvedic digestive tonic. Triphala reliably supports regular, comfortable bowel movements, among a spectacular array of other health benefits (source).
When you eat more sugar than usual, you feed the sugar-loving gut microbes in your gut… so the sugar-eaters multiply.
Unfortunately, the sugar-loving microbes are infectious trouble-makers that fill your gut with toxic junk (endotoxins) that cause a lot of problems.
The good news?
The right friendly probiotics can help control those sugar-eating trouble-makers in your gut - for example:
S. boulardii can combat infectious overgrowths & reduce IBD symptoms (source).
Lactobacillus gasseri (BioThin by Dr. Mercola) has been found to reduce bloating, improve sleep & weight loss, control streptococcus in the gut, and reduce H.pylori infection (source, source).
Since I’m planning on plenty of dessert, Sacchromyces boulardii & Lactobacillus gasseri go on vacation with me :)
You don’t have to eat perfectly on vacation!
Indulge & enjoy! Just give your gut some extra help :)
I can’t wait to go out for ice cream with these peeps on vacation!
So I’m taking a little simple support…
…and keeping things moving.
Do you want to enjoy your vacation food AND your digestion too?
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I always advocate for a colorful, veggie-ful, varied, gut-loving, fiber-fats-proteins-rich diet, but it can be hard to get enough of every nutrient from diet alone.
That’s why I always offer 25% off my entire Fullscript Dispensary, so you can get your vitamins, minerals, herbs and more without breaking the bank! :)
Just create a free account (or log in), and start shopping. You can view the top 5 nutrient deficiencies I see in both adults and kids, or browse for anything you need!
It’s truly a pleasure to share these savings with you - always 25% off since 2017. I hope it helps you discover the simple, gentle, quality supports that are best for you!
Love,
Elissa
Click here for help with picky eating!
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