RAW JUICE Boozy Christmas Survival

    If you are like most, you will eat and drink in excess of what you
    normally do over the Christmas period. As a Naturopath I can tell you to
    limit alcohol, drink 3 litres of water a day and eat only healthy
    treats. But lets get real, it’s Christmas! So I recommend eating well,
    drinking as much water as you do alcohol and balancing any food and wine
    overindulgence with fresh air, herbs and extra bedroom
    activities.

    couple in bed

    WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU EAT AND DRINK MORE THAN NORMAL:
    Exercise: DON’T beat yourself up about it.
    DO rug up and get outside for some extra long walks or jump on a
    treadmill. Most definitely take advantage of not having to get up for work
    by indulging in more boudoir activity. Sex is the perfect way to burn
    extra calories and sweat out booze. It also gives a buzzy release of the
    endorphins that we require in higher amounts at a stressful time of year.
    Give some loving to the Christmas Grinch, dare I say it – grind the
    Grinch!

    B VITAMINS:
    DO get hold of a B complex vitamin to help liver detoxification and energy
    metabolism. My favourite over the counter products is biocare B complex,
    this can be bought online from
    www.revital.co.uk. DON’T buy the
    cheapest supermarket available B complex. They are full of nasty bulkers
    and preservatives and the nutrient form will be cheap with little
    bioavailability, meaning that it can’t be absorbed very well. Reputable
    health food stores and practitioner only products are the way to go.

    StMarysThistle

    WET YOUR WHISTLE, THEN TAKE YOUR THISTLE:
    St Marys Thistle (SMT) is my top recommendation over the Christmas period.
    SMT is the ultimate preventative health herb. It not only protects the
    liver from excess food and wine but this western herbal medicine is a
    hepatorestorative meaning it rebuilds the liver cells. Taking SMT before
    and after a night out or a heavy meal reduce hangovers and increase bile
    production to help digestion. There have been over 12,000 studies
    conducted in the last decade on the beneficial effects of flavonolignans
    found in SMT. Preventative health is taking measures to balance your
    naughty, bad and ugly lifestyle choices before they manifests into
    illness. Viridian is my favourite over the counter SMT for preventative
    health. For treatment of any diagnosed liver or digestive complaints
    professional grade products are indicated and a Naturopathic consultation
    is necessary.

    RANDOM FACT: Brits eat twice the amount of food Christmas
    day than they do on normal days. Approximately 6000 calories, enjoy your
    lunch but don’t be a wasteful booze hound. Instead take leftovers and
    share some mulled wine with someone who is living on the streets or take
    it down to the nearest homeless shelter. This is undeniably my favourite
    part of Christmas day. Giving is receiving.

    homelessman

    TRAVEL BUGS AND THE TRUTH ABOUT ANTIBACTERIAL GEL SANITIZERS
    When on the move we are exposed to hundreds of new strains of bacteria.
    Not only do we ingest pathogens via the oral cavity, through what we eat
    and who we kiss under the mistletoe. But we also contract viruses through
    other mucous membranes. Contracting an infection can be as simple as
    touching a railing with your hand on the underground and then wiping your
    eye with the same hand later on during the day.

    Solution: DO wash your hands regularly and avoid touching
    yourself in public, ew!
    DON’T use Anti-bacterial hand gels! Anti bacterial gels contain chemicals
    that are toxic carcinogens, namely triclosan and dioxin. These are known
    potent endocrine disruptors. They disrupt hormone function and have been
    linked to infertility. In March 2010, the European Union banned the
    triclosan from all products that come in contact with food. Antibacterial
    hand gels have received some heat from the FDA too. Sandra Kweder, deputy
    director in the FDA’s drug center as quoted to say “we don’t have any
    evidence that anti-bacterial soaps have any benefit really over simple
    soap and water.” So choose natural soaps and essential oils this Christmas
    to avoid possible ED (flat willy) and venereal diseases! If you choose to
    stick with chemical products for then consider protecting your health with
    an annual juice cleanses and lots of time in nature. Incase you missed my
    blog on juicing, here it is –
    www.essentialibiza.com/blog/raw-juice-episode-1/

    germs

    ANTIBACTERIAL ESSENTIAL OILS FOR ON THE GO
    (Look for the Latin botanical name on the bottle to know that it’s not a
    dud)

    Frankincense (boswelia carterri) is all the rage at the
    moment for its proven anticancer properties, also great for social
    anxiety. It’s a woody and spicy essence and will get you into the
    Christmas spirit.

    Petitgrain (citrus aurantium) is the base of many
    aftershaves, so smells like man, a woody-orange kind of musky smelling
    man.

    Melissa (lemon vebena), a beautiful aroma with calming
    properties for the psychotic Christmas shopper. Smells divine, with a
    fresh lemony aroma.

    Peppermint (metha piperita) good for hangover headaches,
    pain relief. Smells minty-zesty fresh.

    Lavender (lavendula angustifolia), strongly antibacterial and
    no.1 chill out for the nervous system. One of the only oils that you can
    use neat on the skin. Smells a bit like Grandma, floral and lovely.

    Oregano (oreganum vulgare), a strong antifungal and
    antioxidant, Smells earthy, this one is hardcore herbie, not for the faint
    hearted but great for funky feet!

    Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) a congnitive enhancer
    and circulation stimulant, good for cold extremeties! Smells earthy with a
    wiff of mint.

    essential oils

    HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS
    For daily protection and defence, burn a few drops in a vaporizer or get
    sensual and blend 4 drops in 25ml (just under 2 tablespoons) of almond oil
    and massage into the souls of your feet. A couple of drops on a scarf or
    on a tissue to breathe in busy places is nice too. This can offer a little
    immune protection but mainly it will provide a nice aroma amidst pollution
    and other city stinkers. A study assessing antibacterial activity of
    essential oils used in flu (Haemophilus influenza), strep (Streptococcus
    pneumonia) and Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) infections found that the
    antibacterial action of essential oils was most effective when at high
    vapour concentration for a short time. Using the 4 drops of oil in a
    vaporizer for an hour a day or having a good wiff for a few minutes when
    on the move will prove to be most effective.

    So to survive this boozy Christmas period, shack up, sniff your oils and
    take your pills! Merry Christmas from the gorgeous Ibiza.

    By Chloé Silverman B.H.Sc Naturopath, Wellness expert.
    For more info please visit 
 www.chloesilverman.com
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    References:
    Lan, Z., Hyung Kim, T., Shun Bi, K., Hui Chen, X. and Sik Kim, H.
    (2015), Triclosan exhibits a tendency to accumulate in the epididymis
    and shows sperm toxicity in male sprague-dawley rats. Environ. Toxicol.,
    30: 83–91.

    Shigeharu Inouye, Toshio Takizawa, and Hideyo Yamaguchi
    Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their major constituents
    against respiratory tract pathogens by gaseous contact
    J. Antimicrob. Chemother. (2001) 47 (5): 565-573

    Post-White, Janice, Elena J. Ladas, and Kara M. Kelly. “Advances in the
    use of milk thistle (Silybum marianum).” Integrative cancer therapies
    6.2 (2007): 104-109.