This holiday season take care of your digestive system for better health

Liz Applegate, Ph.D.
Director of Sports Nutrition, University of California at Davis

A time for celebration, a time for family and a time for food. The holidays are all that … and more. Unfortunately, it's also a time we get sick with colds or flu. And it's no wonder with all holiday chaos that may add extra stress and cut your sleep hours short not to mention the numerous parties and food events that can wreak havoc on your diet.

Make this holiday season different. Taking care of your digestive system can actually boost your immune health and ward off colds and other ailments. According to research, your gut is the window to your immune health and taking a few simple steps to ensure your digestive tract is well cared for is key to your good health this holiday season.

Gut reactions

Your digestive system has more going on inside of it than you may realize. There are literally trillions of bacteria that live mostly in the lower parts of your intestines – the colon. These bacteria establish a "city" of sorts with many different "neighborhoods" of friendly (healthy) and non-friendly (harmful) bacteria types.

Your immune health depends upon the friendly bacteria out-numbering these bad neighbors. According to research, the healthy bacteria help maintain the proper balance of immune substances called immunoglobulins that ultimately help keep colds, flu and even yeast infections at bay. Scientists view the intestinal tract as the first line of defense against illness so maintaining ample friendly bacteria ultimately keeps you well.

But the friendly bacteria can become outnumbered or weakened due to the overgrowth of the harmful varieties, which triggers a chain reaction that ultimately weakens your immune system. Stress, likely around holiday time, poor sleep, sporadic eating or poor dietary choices can each disrupt the balance of friendly versus non-friendly bacteria.

TLC for your digestive system

Stay healthy this holiday by taking these simple steps to promote healthy bacteria in your digestive system and a strong immune system.

1. Include food with probiotics. These are live healthy bacteria that exist naturally in foods such as yogurt and kefir, and in other specialty products, such as wellness bars and cereals. Studies show that probiotics keep the harmful bacteria populations from outnumbering the good.

2. Get your rest. Sleep allows your body time to rebuild and recover from the busy day. Studies show that getting at least 7 to 8 hours nightly helps maintain immune health.

3. Take relaxation time for yourself. Busy times can make for stressful times and can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This in turn can compromise your immune system's ability to ward off illnesses. Set aside time to read, meditate or do other solo activities that give you a little "me time" to lower stress levels.

4. Stay active. Walking, jogging or other physical activities keep your intestinal tract healthy, improve blood flow and boost immune health. Preserve your exercise time during the holidays as this is as important to your well-being as sleeping and eating (and can help keep the holiday pounds at bay).

New Online Coupon Available
Visit our website for your printable, money-saving coupon.

Need to find a store near you carrying Attune?
Just visit our store locator to find an updated list of retail locations.

Attune® Smile From Inside Sweepstakes

Attune wants to know, what makes you smile from inside? Whether it's singing loudly to your favorite song or catching your morning yoga class, tell us what makes you smile from inside each day. We want to hear those small yet special moments that keep you feeling happy and healthy from day to day.

Let us know and you could win our Sweepstakes Grand Prize of an entire weekend of wellness in San Francisco including two all-weekend passes to the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference, $200 Gift Certificate to Bliss Spa, dinner for two, Attune Wellness packs and more!

Enter the Attune® Smile From Inside Sweepstakes today!


New Stores Added: Attune's availability continues to expand with the addition of these new retailers: Heinen's in Cleveland; Giant Eagle serving Pittsburgh and Cleveland; and HEB in Texas!

Don't forget, our delicious, probiotic wellness bars are in the dairy case next to yogurt. If you don't see them, be sure to ask the dairy manager.

Online Shipping Changes: Attune is now shipping 2nd Day Air! With colder temperatures across the country, Attune has extended our online shipping time. This means you will still receive efficacious product by mail at a more affordable price!

Want to see where you might be able to meet Attune? Check our website for upcoming Attune events: www.attunefoods.com/events

Attune to Life!

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." - Victor Hugo

Attune®. Positively Alive™.