Holidays are times of family fun, favorite foods, and sometimes overwhelming stress.
Even in the best of circumstances, preparing for the holidays – all that shopping, chopping, traveling, and spending – can bring more stress than you usually handle.
And all of that stress goes directly to your gut.
While you (and most other people) probably chalk-up holiday and post-holiday stomach issues to the extra-rich foods you’ve been eating – and those extra helpings of potatoes and pie – a lot of that GI (gastrointestinal) distress springs straight from your feelings of stress.
You can de-stress your gut and prevent stress-related damage by taking one simple step before, during, and after the holidays: Balance your gut with spore probiotics.
“Holiday Stress Minefields” Can Unbalance Your Gut
The holidays can feel like a stress minefield to your gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria (good and bad) that live in your gut.
No matter how much you enjoy the holidays, your gut microbiome will almost certainly be affected by some stressful situations which could include:
- Jetlag
- Changes in your daily routine
- Holiday eating and drinking
- Financial stress
- Tricky family interactions
- Loneliness
- Reduced sleep
- Gift-giving pressure
- Last-minute shopping
Even one of those potential stressors can knock your gut microbiome out of balance, a condition called dysbiosis. When that happens, the bad bacteria (pathogens) outnumber the good bacteria (probiotics) in your gut, and those pathogens can cause problems that affect your entire body.
Pathogens trigger immune system responses, like runaway inflammation. They produce a variety of toxins including lipopolysaccharides, or LPS toxins. Those LPS toxins damage the protective barrier in your gut, which is designed to keep food particles, pathogens, and toxins safely inside.
But when the gut barrier gets damaged, those LPS toxins escape into your bloodstream, a condition called toxic streaming. Toxic streaming can trigger weight gain, gas, bloating, fatigue, and an intensified stress response.
You may not be able to avoid the holiday stressors that can bring on dysbiosis and toxic streaming, but you can supply your gut microbiome with the strongest possible defense: powerful spore probiotics that eliminate pathogens and encourage beneficial gut bacteria.
Holiday Prep and Purchases Stress Your Budget… and Your Gut
People tend to overdo it during the holidays, and that includes spending.
According to a report by the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend $1,047 (on average) for the 2019 holiday season. That’s a lot of extra financial stress – especially because a lot of that spending will be done with credit cards.
Many studies show that psychological stress – including financial stress – can lead to or worsen dysbiosis. As it turns out, when your gut is out of balance, it can make you feel more stressed-out and anxious.
You can get ahead of that stress cycle by shoring up your gut microbiome before the holiday stress tsunami hits. A high-quality spore probiotic can keep your gut in stress-fighting shape and take the edge off holiday anxiety.
Family Stress Can Upset Your Gut
Whether you’re hosting for the holidays or going to visit family, concentrated togetherness coupled with high expectations can create a recipe for stress. And that stress can hit you right in the gut microbiome.
It’s so common that scientists have begun to study this experience. In fact, a new study shines a revealing light on how the microbiome reacts depending on which relatives you’re spending the holidays with. Researchers discovered that the gut microbiome responds differently depending on whether people visit with their own families or their in-laws during the Christmas season. In people who spent the holidays with in-laws, the researchers found a change in their gut microbiomes that’s normally associated with stress and depression – that didn’t happen for the participants visiting their own families.
No matter who’s stressing you out, that stress hits your gut microbiome too, setting the stage for a season of GI distress… unless you show your gut some love to help it stay in balance.
Feasts and Treats Undermine Your Gut
From candy canes to sugary Christmas cookies to gingerbread houses, the sudden sugar surge encourages the growth of bad bacteria. As you fill up on those tasty seasonal treats, there’s less room for fiber-rich fruits and vegetables – the preferred foods for beneficial bacteria.
Champagne, eggnog, and other holiday spirits can also have a negative impact on your gut bacteria. (Read more)
So, from your gut microbiome’s perspective, the holidays are a time for bad bacteria to feast while good bacteria go hungry. That stresses your microbiome and gives the bad bacteria an edge. Those pathogens grab onto that advantage and start to outnumber the beneficial bacteria, causing dysbiosis. And dysbiosis can quickly lead to:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
You can avoid that outcome – without passing up every holiday treat – by supporting and replenishing the beneficial bacteria in your gut with spore probiotics. And by feeding the good bacteria with a daily helping of prebiotic fiber, you’ll make sure those probiotics get the nourishment they need to keep your gut in healthy balance.
Shield Your Gut Microbiome Against the “Holiday Stress Minefield”
Get ahead of potential holiday hazards by pre-defending your gut microbiome with Just Thrive spore probiotics. No matter what stressors you and your gut are facing this holiday season, Just Thrive spore probiotics can meet those challenges.
The four powerful spore probiotics in Just Thrive take down pathogens and help beneficial gut bacteria flourish. This clinically proven combination of spore probiotics fights dysbiosis and toxic streaming, keeping your gut microbiome in healthy balance.
And for an added layer of support – perfect if you’re expecting a super stressful holiday season – nourish the beneficial bacteria in your gut with Just Thrive Precision Prebiotics.
‘Tis the season for Just Thrive!
