Go with Your Gut: My Five Supplements to Help with Digestion and Stress
Eating and drinking constantly, in late hours and in excessive amounts, is not uncommon at this time of year. But the excess can quickly dull the body’s digestive fire (or agni) leaving you feeling sluggish, bloated and interrupting your body’s normal digestion and elimination functions.
Maintaining healthy digestion has always been a challenge for me so, prompted by a reader enquiry this week (thanks, Ann!) here are the five supplements I always have on hand to help support my individual digestive needs.
Naturally, this also means that they help manage my stress and wellbeing.
1. I Travel Well Liquid Extract
I have so many bottles of this magical tincture stashed in every carry-on luggage and bag possible, that I can’t leave home without it. It’s an herbal tincture (some of you might think of it as a more sophisticated Underberg), and it’s also an herbal supplement to help your body cope with the stresses of travel, sleep interruption, and adjusting to time changes.
Simply add the recommended number of drops to a glass of water (or morning OJ, to hide the taste) and sip it down. When traveling long-haul I add it to the small water bottles that airline crews hand out, and sip it over the course of the flight.
2. Easy Digest- Liquid Extract
Another savior from Banyan Botanicals, Easy Digest is for those times when simply you can’t avoid the late-night dining, or the multiple excessive and rich meals (hello, Holidays!). Another formulation of bitters, this extract can be taken either before eating to stoke the digestive fire, or after dining to help support digestion and elimination. Its distinctive bitter herbal flavor profile can be a challenge to get down, but it’s worth it.
3. Rainbow Light MultiVitamins
I could fill a fermenter with the number of multivitamins I have tried over the years, and I’ve found Rainbow Light to be the best for quality and value. They offer a range of multivitamins and supplements for all ages, in a range of formats, and I swear by the Women’s One High Potency Multivitamin as a once-a-day supplement for maintenance. I also double up on the dose when I’m in high-stress times.
4. Natural Vitality – Natural Calm Magnesium + Calcium
This company is the best I have found for magnesium and calcium supplements to help support sleep and manage stress. Supplements come in powder, capsule and gummy formulations, which are perfect for travel and they’re easy to take. The unflavored formulations can be too alkaline for my taste, so I prefer the Orange or Sweet-lemon flavored powder.
5. Berocca Multivitamin
B vitamin levels are depleted by stress and excessive drinking, and this multivitamin has been a staple for many Australian wine professionals for decades. Packed with a range of B vitamins, vitamin C and Zinc, it’s an effervescent tablet and pick-me-up. It’s also easy to take and tastes pretty good. Thankfully it’s now widely available in most countries, but I still stock up when I head back to Oz for canisters of the original Orange flavor.
Bonus: most of the recommendations above are dissolved in, or taken with, water – giving you a bonus hydration boost to help flush your system.
Wishing you all a happy gut! And a healthy end to the year!
Namaste,
Beck
Disclaimer:
These recommendations above are not intended to replace medical advice and are not designed to diagnose, treat or support any medical issues. Please seek a qualified medical practitioner to inquire whether these supplements are suitable for your needs. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition, please consult with your health care practitioner prior to the use of these products.
What We're Reading:
There's no shortage of wine stories and media inundating our IN Boxes. Here's what has piqued our interest this week.
Pernod Ricard Faces Legal Challenge Over Alleged Harmful Drinking Culture – The Drinks Business.com
Former employees accuse the drinks giant of creating a work environment where there was a constant pressure to consume alcohol.
Pernod Ricard CEO speaks out against ‘drinking pressure’ claims – Spirits Business.com
Alexandre Ricard, CEO of Pernod Ricard has expressed “shock” at responds to recent allegations the firm promotes a culture of excessive drinking within its workforce
The Elemental Guide to Vitamins - Medium.com
A quick-reference guide to the most common vitamins and supplements available to consumers and what they do.
Meet the Community!
Our community is only as strong as the company we keep, and here we meet some of the folks who make our profession so dynamic.
Larissa Dubose, GA & SC On Premise Manager for FIJI Water, JUSTIN, Landmark, & JNSQ Wines/ Founder of The Lotus and the Vines (USA)
Years in the Industry:
I've been in the Industry on the Sales & Distribution side for almost 10 years. My career path has been a unique one, and I'm grateful for it all as I wouldn't appreciate this industry as much as I do without the ebbs & flows of a successful pharmaceutical sales career, a stint in the restaurant industry, and an even smaller stint pursuing a singing career (long story). I made a complete career pivot in 2010, and never looked back.
My Biggest Challenge to Wellness:
My biggest challenge is getting out of my own way, and showing up for myself. I'm not one who gets excited to workout or go to yoga, but I always feel good afterwards. It takes consistent effort of challenging the story in my head that I don't have enough time. Being a Wife, a Mother to a 4 year old daughter overflowing with leadership skills :), having a full time career, and a passion project definitely take their pieces of my day to day, but I'm committed to keep showing up for myself.
How I Keep It To Together To Stay Well:
Prayer - My spiritual journey is very important to me. Even still, it's easy to lose focus on what's important from time to time. I have a constant dialogue in my head about gratitude. When I wake up every morning I thank the Lord for a new day, and run through a list of things that I'm grateful for. I do the same at night. I've recently established daily affirmations that I tell myself as well to stay centered.
Therapy - I recently started seeing a Therapist again after losing a dear friend to suicide earlier this year. While working through my grief, I've found so much more. It's great to unpack what's been going on in my life, laugh, vent, and cry unexpectedly with an unbiased party. I get to curse a lot in my sessions since I try my best not to curse in front of my child, and it helps immensely lol.
Wine - I love Wine. I love the sensory experience and I love to geek out about it. More importantly, I love the people that I get to spend time and share wine with. I started in this industry right after losing my mother to breast cancer, and needless to say it was a very dark time for me. This industry embraced me and helped me find my light again through the joy I found in my career. I've found some of my closest friends because of this crazy wine world, and for that I am forever grateful. It keeps me well!
You can connect with Larissa on Instagram: @lotusvinewine and through her website www.TheLotusAndTheVines.com
Let’s Meet Up!
As work life has it, we are traveling over the next few months and would love to see you!
Presenters at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, February 4 to 6 (Beck and Cathy)
Presenter at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 25 to 29 (Cathy)
Attendee at ProWein in Düsseldorf, March 15 to 17 (Cathy)
Presenter at the Future Wine Expo in Santa Rosa, May 12 and 13 (Cathy)
Drop a line to rebecca@abalancedglass.com or cathy@enolytics.com if you are interested in getting together for practice, a chat or a great glass together.
