- Health advice
- 5 min read
- Nov 17, 2025
Finding Balance During the Festive Season
Expert Insights from Our Naturopaths
Krista Gilen (Naturopath)
“Indulge mindfully: enjoy festive foods without guilt by balancing richer meals with nutrient-dense options and staying hydrated. To support energy and digestion, consider activated B vitamins to cope with stress and pressure, and a high-quality probiotic to aid gut health and nutrient absorption.”
Krista’s Top Festive Season Supplements
Maria F. Butler (Naturopath)
“At the end of the festive season, I suggest a gentle cleanse and check hydration. Incorporate exercise like walking, swimming, or yoga. For morning support, try a B complex or greens powder. During the day, enjoy Tulsi herbal teas for energy, calm, and digestion. At night, magnesium supports rest and relaxation.”
Maria's Top Festive Season Supplements
Hydration salts help maintain fluid balance by replenishing electrolytes — minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium that are naturally lost through sweating, travel, alcohol consumption, and long, busy days.
Electrolytes play a key role in cellular hydration, nerve signalling, and muscle function, helping water move efficiently into cells rather than simply passing through the system.
Adding hydration salts to water throughout the festive season can help support hydration as you move from one gathering to the next — especially in warmer weather, during travel, or when celebrations involve alcohol or late nights.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) is an adaptogenic herb, traditionally used to help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress. Adaptogens work by supporting the nervous system and regulating stress hormones, rather than stimulating or sedating.
Tulsi is also known for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties, making it particularly helpful during the festive season when meals are richer, routines are disrupted, and stress levels can rise.
Sipping Tulsi tea regularly provides a gentle way to support calm, digestion, and overall balance, offering a grounding ritual amid the busyness of celebrations.
Marie Claire Quilao (Naturopath & Registered Nurse)
“The festive season is filled with gatherings and indulgent meals. My go-to supplement during this time is a digestive enzyme to help prevent or manage indigestion, bloating, or irregular bowel motions.”
Digestive enzymes play a critical role in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so nutrients can be properly absorbed and used by the body. When enzyme output is insufficient (something that commonly occurs during periods of stress, overeating, or heavier meals), digestion can feel sluggish, leading to bloating, discomfort, and fatigue.
During the festive season, meals are often larger, richer, and more varied, placing extra demand on the digestive system. A comprehensive enzyme formula like BioCeuticals MultiGest Enzymes helps support digestion by providing key enzymes that assist the breakdown of complex foods, helping reduce digestive load and improve comfort after meals.
Using digestive enzymes with main meals during this time can support better nutrient absorption, reduced post-meal bloating, and improved energy, allowing you to enjoy celebrations without digestive discomfort.
Amy Imprasertsuk (Nutritionist)
“The festive season is for joy and connection — not restriction. I encourage clients to focus on balance: enjoying celebrations while supporting digestion, energy, and wellbeing.”
Smart Habits for the Season:
Amy's Top Festive Season Supplements
8 Simple Holiday Wellness Tips to Stay Healthy and Energised
Eat mindfully
Balance indulgent meals with lighter, nutrient-rich foods. Slowing down and paying attention to your meals supports digestion, helps regulate appetite hormones, and reduces bloating and overeating.
Hydrate often
Alternate water or electrolytes with festive drinks to stay energised. Staying hydrated supports circulation, digestion, and detoxification, while helping reduce fatigue and headaches, especially when alcohol or travel are involved.
Keep moving
Gentle activity like walking, stretching, or yoga stimulates digestion, improves circulation, and helps lower stress hormones in the body.
Rest well
Quality sleep allows the body to repair, regulate appetite and stress hormones, and support immune function during busy periods.
Support your gut and liver
Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and liver-support nutrients help the body break down richer foods, absorb nutrients efficiently, and clear metabolic waste.
Nourish early
Starting the day with protein, greens, or a smoothie helps stabilise blood sugar, prevent energy crashes, and reduce cravings later in the day.
Get some sun
Brief sun exposure supports vitamin D production, circadian rhythm regulation, and mood balance, all of which play a role in energy and immunity.
Stay balanced, not strict
A flexible approach reduces stress on the nervous system and makes healthy habits more sustainable through the festive season, supporting long-term wellbeing rather than short-term restriction.
Evidence-based Resources
- Markowiak, P. et al. (2017). Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Human Health. Nutrients, 9(9):1021.
- Tardy, A.-L. et al. (2020). Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients, 2020, 12, 228.
- Warren, A., Frame, L.A. (2025). Restoring a Healthy Relationship with Food by Decoupling Stress and Eating: A Translational Review of Nutrition and Mental Health. Nutrients, 17(15):2466.
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