3 Tips to Make the Holidays Easier for Gut Health

Sponsored by and developed in part with support from Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

Happy Holidays Sis. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But for those with C. diff, their gut health and the holiday season might not seem quite so merry. I have experienced firsthand the impact that C. diff has on the body, and it is not pleasant. However, there are some simple changes you can make to help keep everyone happy this holiday season.

What is C. Diff ?

Before I go any further, let me share a little about what C. diff is. If you’re not quite familiar, C. diff, abbreviated for Clostridioides difficile, is caused by bacteria that take hold deep inside the gut microbiome in the stomach and intestines. It is a very contagious infection and is a serious threat to others in the home and the community. It is characterized by symptoms of watery diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps that can last for days, even weeks, if untreated. Click here for more information.

As a nurse, I have taken care of my share of patients with C. diff, many of whom acquired it while in the hospital. That’s how contagious it is! But nothing struck me harder than having to take care of my mother when she got infected last year.

My mother has kidney disease and spent a great deal of time in the hospital. Her immune system weakened over time, and she had been prescribed antibiotics quite a few times as well. These combined factors put her at high risk for acquiring C.diff. The infection had gotten so bad that she was fearful of eating anything. Luckily, her doctor and specialists were able to treat her, but her diet and appetite have never been the same.

Many may not realize that getting a relapse of the infection is highly possible–anywhere between two and eight weeks after the first infection. This is called recurrent C. diff. Due to the recurring nature of the infection, small adjustments must be made to help manage symptoms and improve gut health.

It’s important to always talk to your doctor about what you can eat during and after a C. diff infection. For the holidays, C. diff sufferers often face a stressful and difficult time at food-focused gatherings. Here are three tips to help make your holidays more pleasant for you or a loved one.

3 Gut Healthy Tips to Make Holiday Gatherings Easier

1. Cook Meals with Gut-Friendly ingredients in mind

Gut health is super important. Gut health means that the proper balance of healthy bacteria for your gut microbiome is present and that you have a healthy digestive system overall. To help manage symptoms, consider adjusting the ingredients in some of your family recipes so they can be more gentle on someone with C. diff.

My first tip is to limit the cooking oils. Oily, greasy foods can be hard to digest and can contribute to diarrhea. Instead of sauteing or cooking in oils, try steaming or boiling foods like vegetables to help break down the fiber. Another suggestion is to avoid dairy products that are high in lactose such as milk and ice cream. Instead, substitute them with almond milk, soy milk, or any dairy replacements.

2. Offer Gut Healthy Substitutes for Traditional Dishes

With a little planning, you can accommodate loved ones with C. diff issues as well as those who do not have gut issues. For example, if your family traditionally eats ham or pork for the holidays, consider using alternatives that are better for gut health like baked chicken or turkey. Lean proteins are less fatty and easier to digest. When planning appetizers, consider having broth-based soups like pumpkin soup or chicken noodle soup. 

3. Use Starch and Soluble Fibers to Make Gut Healthy Baked Goods

What’s a holiday gathering without baked goods? This year consider making something better for gut health. While recipes like sugar cookies, brownies, or pumpkin pie may be favorites for many, they are not so kind to your gut.

Try baking banana bread or oatmeal cookies. They contain more soluble fiber than traditional white flour.

Avoid baking with refined sugars. Instead, try using coconut sugar or maple syrup as a substitute. Lastly, for any cream-based desserts, opt out of the cream and use yogurt that contains live active cultures instead. They are considered good bacteria for the gut.

Make Gut Health a Priority for the Holidays

These three tips are just a few ways that you can accommodate your loved ones suffering from C. diff or any gut health issues during the holiday season. I know these tips may seem like common sense, but they can be hard to follow when it comes to the holidays. However, these little changes can make a world of difference. The holidays should be joyous, and gut health should not have to be compromised! For more information on C. diff and tips for the holiday season, please click here.

If you’ve made it this far, I want to thank you for sticking around and reading this post. Leave a comment below to let me know you stopped by. Please be sure to like, pin, and share this post as well! Your support means everything! If you’ve enjoyed this post and want to see more like it, or receive a short weekly devotional, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter below!

[mailerlite_form form_id=1]

View more Posts like this one: Free Health Resources for Moms, 5 Reasons Woman Evolve will Revolutionize Your Life, The Ultimate Planner for the Busy Mom

---