I’m making this newsletter about candy... since it’s on EVERYONE’S mind with Halloween coming up this weekend.

Wanna guess the most popular Halloween candy in the US?

Drumroll...

Reese’s cups.

(I know this because a clickbait article totally got me - and you can even find out the most popular candy in your state here)

Reese’s taking the top spot makes me happy, since it’s definitely my guilty candy pleasure. Every once in a while, there’s nothing better than a gas station Reese’s cup.

And even though my husband doesn’t like chocolate (gasp!), he DOES love Reese’s. There’s just something about them…

To avoid overdoing the not-so-healthy Reese’s, I love making my own, and we have a stash in our freezer right now! I follow this recipe for 4-ingredient Reese’s cups. Using milk chocolate makes them taste more “authentic” if that’s your thing (or if you’re my husband and can only handle chocolate when it’s extra sweet...)

Ok, but now to talk about healthier things...

The most bloated stretch of the year

This Saturday is basically the start for the most bloated stretch of the whole year. Starting with Halloween candy, it leads to Thanksgiving leftovers, work parties, airport snacks, and New Year’s drinks, and before you know it you’ve spent two straight months eating more sugar, drinking more, sleeping less, and feeling way more stressed than usual (with your normal routine going down the tubes).

Come January, I start hearing from friends and clients who feel puffy every single day, exhausted, bloated and are frustrated with the extra fluff.

So let’s get ahead of it!

The good news is that your gut is tougher than you think. A body that’s in a good place can handle a few weeks of indulging and recover without many issues. If a little candy and a busy week knock you out for weeks, I’d look at that as a sign your gut was already struggling before the holidays even started.

Some of the usual suspects I see:

• a hidden infection or overgrowth (H. pylori, SIBO, yeast, parasites)
• poor digestion, like low stomach acid or a slow gallbladder
• a buildup of toxins (mold, heavy metals) your body is having a hard time getting out

What to focus on this week:

1. Have actual food before you dig into the candy bowl, ideally something with protein and veggies, so sugar isn’t the first thing hitting an empty stomach.
2. Be selective about your treats and go for the dark chocolate over the gummy, sticky or hard candies.
3. If you’re really craving something, promise yourself to wait 10 minutes before you give in. More often than not, our cravings magically end up disappearing…

Have a fun Halloween!

In health,

-Daina

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​tabletocrave.com​

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