Christmas is upon us, which unfortunately for most adults means one thing – stress!
The rush to complete the purchase of those last few Christmas presents, the inevitable overindulgence at multiple pre-Christmas celebrations, the pressure of work deadlines as the end of the year looms.
Stress wreaks havoc on our health, and often the organ system that bears the brunt of the damage is our gut. Stress (both physical and emotional) breaks down the fragile layer of cells that line our intestinal wall, causing increased permeability and a down-regulation of immune enhancing secretory IgA. Disease is often the result, and can manifest in almost any area of the body.
Luckily there are many nutrients and supplements that can help to heal damage to the gut wall and protect it from the ravages of stress. In our house, gut healing jellies are a common fixture in the snacking schedule. These provide multiple sources of gut goodness, and the best thing of all is that the kiddies love them (it doesn’t hurt to use Christmas themed silicone moulds to get them even more excited)!
Whip up a batch of these on a weekly basis and your body will thank you for it.
Gut healing caramel jellies
- 3.5 Tbsp gelatin powder (I recommend the Great Lakes brand)
- 1/2 cup cool water
Briskly stir these ingredients together in a bowl until they form a thick rubbery mass. Then put the following into a saucepan:
- 1 tin coconut milk (I use the Absolutely Organic brand – BPA free tin)
- 1 large ripe banana, sliced
- 1 Tbsp vanilla essence
- 1 Tbsp honey
Heat these ingredients on a stove until warm (not boiling). Add the rubbery gelatin and stir over a low heat until dissolved. Cool the mixture, and when luke warm add 3-5 tsp of probiotic powder (I like the Nutrition Care Polybac 8 powder). Use a stick blender to liquefy, then pour into silicone moulds. Place in the fridge until set (usually about 3 hours). Turn them out and gobble them up!
Note that if there is significant damage to the gut lining, you can add 2 Tbsp of glutamine powder with the probiotics for extra gut healing powers.
You can also substitute any other fruit for the banana – mango works really well.
In wellness,
James
