Recovering from Diwali

The festive season is party time, says PRIYA DHINGRA, but homoeopathy can help tackle the effects of overindulgence

Believe it or not, its Diwali time again. A time to relax and catch up with friends and family. If you are a typically hospitable Indian, that means food, food, food and yet more food. And if you imbibe, plenty of drink too. For most of us that means parties, dinners, late night eating, lots of rich food, drinking, nuts, nibbles, desserts, chocolate and of course, mithai. Basically it’s all about total overindulgence, in all senses of the word.

Along with our Greek and Italian friends, never let it be said that any self-respecting Indian family even comes close to running out of food. In fact, there is usually enough left over for several days, for the entire family and several friends! Sounds familiar?

I’m sure you know what I am talking about!

With the lack of normal routine during Diwali, it is quite likely that you will not be as careful with your dietary intake, especially those additional carbohydrates and sugar, and are drinking less water than normal. Exercise levels have probably dropped off too. It can be quite an exhausting time with all the preparation and socializing. At the end of it all, many are left worn out and feeling somewhat acidic, bloated, and a bit nauseous, with rather more than a few extra kilos. But, there is much that can be done to help you using natural remedies such as homoeopathy, Australian Bush Flower and Bach Flower remedies

Homoeopathy and flower remedies can help in dealing with l Acidity and indigestion l Pain in liver/gall bladder area or referred pain in the shoulder blade area l Bloating, heaviness, gas and wind l Picking up the functioning of glands such as pancreas, thyroid, adrenals which is invaluable in balancing blood sugar levels, fighting exhaustion l Stress

What is the impact of overindulgence on the body?

Overindulgence impacts on your digestive system, gallbladder, liver, blood sugar balance and blood pressure.

The higher than normal intake of rich, heavier, fattier foods and alcohol all have probably the biggest affect on the liver. This is because the liver is largely responsible for digestion of fatty foods, as it produces bile and detoxification of any toxic substances we ingest, including alcohol and medicines.

In diets where there is over-consumption of fatty foods, sugars and refined carbohydrates, and chemical overloads such as alcohol and medicinal drugs, the liver has to work hard. While the strain on your liver may not show up in a blood test, you may notice some of the following symptoms that indicate a liver/gall bladder under stress l Find fried foods heavy and hard to digest l Feel uneasy after eating rich foods such as cream, ice-cream, full fat products l Find meat, especially red meat heavy and hard to digest l Feel nausea after eating l Suffer from feeling of uneasiness/ heaviness after eating l Feel uncomfortable/heavy after alcohol or coffee l Dull, aching pain in or around one shoulder blade or between the shoulder blades

If these types of early indicators of liver strain are left unattended, they may lead to further problems of ‘fatty’ liver and gallbladder/gallstones.

If you notice some or all of these things, talk with your homoeopath who will advise you on suitable ways to improve the functioning of your liver/gall bladder. Using homoeopathic remedies will improve liver function and as the remedies are natural, they do not cause any detoxification load on the liver.

Indians and diabetes

As Indians have one of the highest incidences of diabetes and high blood pressure in the world, we should be mindful of getting a regular check up done and taking precautions to avoid the condition. The main precautions are correct diet and regular exercise. Talk with your doctor about this. If your blood sugar level is on the higher side and you have a family history of diabetes, now is an excellent time to talk with your homoeopath about how to improve your lifestyle. There are natural treatments available which are effective, safe and side-effect free.

Self Help l Apart from everything else it is a good idea to l Increase exercise. Start gently if you are not used to it. Apart from trimming up, you will feel healthier and fitter. It also helps with increasing bone and muscle strength, lowering blood pressure, reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol and increasing ‘good’, balancing blood sugar, sleeping better l Watch your diet. Become aware of the glycaemic index (GI) of foods l Drink more water: aim for 30ml per kg of body weight. So for a body weight of 67kg that means 2litres of water per day. This does not include tea, coffee, juice or soft drinks. This will get hydration levels back to normal and help to flush out toxins.

Lose those few extra kilos

Give your digestive system a break

Eat lighter foods: more fruit, vegetables and salad and less fried foods, sweet foods, meat and junk foods...

Start looking after yourself

If you have been meaning to get your blood sugar, cholesterol and other medical checks done, remember: there is no time like the present.

Please note if symptoms persist please see your doctor