When you look for glimmer in the Filipino home this Christmas, you don’t only look at the decor. You also turn to the hapagkainan—the fizzy beverages as well as sumptuous food, dripping with oils and exploding with flavors.
In fact, Filipino households can dispense with the Yuletide props when times are rough, but would never, ever skip the feast. Given the value of a holiday get-together, it also becomes obligatory for us to eat or drink, sometimes excessively. When one overshoots his or her limit, here are some simple measures that could provide relief.
Greasy food
You can keep the oils from staying inside your system by drinking warm water, especially after the meal. If you want to step it up a notch, try herbal drinks like a cup of green tea, known to reduce fat absorption and storage. Conversely, you must avoid cold food and drinks, so ponder on skipping the drinking sessions or rethink your pulutan with healthier alternatives like tofu. Try to digest more garlic, which can cleanse the liver of fat and harmful toxins.
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Green tea is known to reduce fat absorption and storage.
Sugar rush
Another formidable enemy during the season is sugar, which can build up with carbs and sweets. If you have a mango tree nearby, pluck a few leaves, boil and strain. Drink the tea on an empty stomach. Bitter gourd has compounds charatin and momordicin, which help lower blood glucose. Drink its juice on an empty stomach early in the morning. If you aren’t a fan of the taste, just eat a dish prepared with bitter gourd. If you are strongly averse to that remedy, you may also drink sweetened aloe juice or salabat twice a day.
