Happy Boxing Day! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed slobbing on the sofa and indulging in your favourite festive treats! We certainly did!

We are all about indulging this season, but unfortunately, a little over-indulgence can throw your digestive system off-kilter. Feeling bloated, nauseous and uncomfortable will hardly put you in the merry mood, so here at Hip & Healthy, we have come up with a healthy habit, food, yoga pose and supplement to aid that digestive tract, promote regular bowel movement and optimum gut health. Beat the boxing day bloat by giving your gut a helping hand to ensure you stay the life and soul of the party, and feel the best you can possibly be!

Habit – Drink Camomile Tea
Have you ever wondered why camomile tea is recommended to soothe an angry tummy? Well, the secret is in the oil derived from its daisy-like flowers. It is this that reduces muscle spasms by having an anti-inflammatory effect on the mucous membranes, meaning that indigestion and even menstrual cramps are a thing of the past! So what are you waiting for? Pop the kettle on!

Food – Chia Seeds
As well as the omega 3’s, protein and antioxidants, the high level of fibre make these super seeds a go-to dietary remedy to ease poor digestion. Fibre promotes the growth of good bacteria, influences the microbes growing in the gut and also enables the production of short chain fatty acids during the fermentation of fibre in the large intestine. It is these fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the gut lining, which soothes, calms and comforts your tummy when feeling irritated. Interestingly, the fibre found in chia seeds is 80% insoluble, to provide roughage to keep you regular, and 20% soluble, which delays the emptying of the stomach to make you feel fuller for longer. Unless we are mistaken, that means that the chia seed is 100% tummy lovin’!

Supplement – Probiotics from Renew Life
Nothing gets rid of bloating faster than some nifty probiotics! Building up good bacteria in the gut is essential, not only for helping you achieve a flat tum, but also for your immunity and overall wellbeing. 2018 is definitely the year of the gut and Renew Life (the digestive care experts) offer a great range of supplements to suit lots of different requirements. Thier Ultimate Flora range is a great place to start if you want to heal your gut and get a huge health boost!

Yoga Pose – Knees hugged to Chest or “Apanasana”
Tummy ache? Trapped wind? This effective stretch will provide instant relief from pain and bloating. Begin in a reclining pose and breathe in deeply. Hug your knees to your chest and exhale as you rock gently from side to side. Maximise the stretch of your abdomen and core and stay for five to ten breaths. Release your knees and repeat when you feel ready. The result? Enjoy a soothing massage on your abdomen to stimulate your colon, strengthen your neck, back and spine, and regulate your breathing to ease constipation, tone your muscles, and relax your nervous system. Namaste!

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