What To Take When You Overeat!

Say no to seasonal woes, with these natural solutions.

- Lisa Turner

Hangovers, headaches, and holiday stress: no one’s completely immune to the season’s biggest bummers. Get prepared this year with herbs and supplements to solve any holiday health problem. Designate a drawer or corner of a cabinet—or, if you’re traveling, buy a cosmetics bag or fishing tackle box, and organize smaller servings into zippered snack bags.

BELLY BLUES.

The causes: Deep-fried turkey, bacon-wrapped everything, oversized portions, and the almost-complete absence of fiber in holiday fare.

Happy holiday solutions:

-- DIGESTIVE ENZYMES. Look for a blend that contains a spectrum of enzymes, especially amylase, protease, and lipase. If you’re sensitive to beans, choose one that has alpha galactosidase; for dairy, look for enzymes with lactase.

-- GINGER. For nausea, as little as ¼ tsp. can reduce symptoms by 40 percent. Stock up on ginger tea or capsules. Or try candied ginger for fast digestive relief: soak in a jar of water to remove excess sugar, then drain, rinse, and store in the fridge.

-- BITTERS. To improve digestion, lessen gas, prevent constipation, and curb sugar cravings, look for blends that contain angelica root, manna, rhubarb, aloe, dandelion, burdock, orange peel, and other herbs, and take a dropperful or a swig right after eating.

-- HEARTBURN REMEDIES. To take the burn out of a heavy meal, choose teas with a combination of ginger, licorice, slippery elm, fennel, or marshmallow. If you know you’re prone to reflux, look for capsules or tablets designed to protect the esophagus.

CUTS, BURNS, AND BOO-BOOS.