Detoxing Kids After the Holidays: What You Need to Know

As a parent, you know that the holiday season can be an absolute rollercoaster. From planning parties to baking cookies and trying to keep up with the endless parade of sugar-laden treats, it’s easy to feel like your head is spinning. But after all the holiday festivities have died down, it’s important to take a step back and assess the damage—especially when it comes to your kids’ gut health. If you’re noticing mood changes, irritability, crankiness, or trouble sleeping in your little one, don’t sweat it - there are steps you can take to detoxify their system and get back on track!

Cutting Out the Junk:

One of the most important steps in detoxifying after a period of indulgence is to eliminate all processed sugars and refined carbs from your child's diet. This will help starve off any bad bacteria or yeast that has grown in their gut due to excessive consumption of sugary treats over the holidays. It is also important to cut out inflammatory seed oils such as canola and soybean oil, as these can further aggravate an already imbalanced gut environment.

Herbal Supplements:

Herbal supplements can be a great way to kill off bad bacteria, yeast or parasites in your child’s gut that could potentially be causing issues like moodiness, digestive upset, or sleep disturbances. Some herbal supplements are not intended for use in children, so be sure to use ones that are safe for kids.  Herbs that often are used for kids include: green black walnut hulls, wormwood, garlic, and grapefruit seed extract. Talk to a qualified nutritionist or naturopathic doctor before introducing herbal supplements into your child’s health plan, as they will be able to recommend specific herbs tailored for your individual needs. And remember, these herbal supplements are intended for short term use only, not longer than 2 weeks at a time.

Probiotics: 

Probiotics are another great way to support your child's gut health during a detox. Probiotics are "good" bacteria that help promote digestion and boost immunity by supporting the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria strains. Probiotic yeast supplements, like s. boulardii, can be especially effective at combatting candida, which tends to show up after these holiday sugar sprees. You can also try adding in some probiotic foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, or kombucha, for natural live and active cultures.

Supporting the Liver:

Finally, a great way to support your child's liver during this detox period is by having them drink dandelion tea! Not only does this tea taste great – especially with a drop of raw, local honey - it also helps remove toxins from the body while protecting against cellular damage. It's a win-win!  You can buy pre-packaged dandelion tea bags at most grocery stores but if you want something more natural you can always try harvesting fresh dandelion roots from your garden or nearby park (just make sure they're pesticide-free!).

At the end of the day, it's important to remember that detoxifying your kids after all the holiday junk doesn't need to be a stressful process – just remind them why they're doing it in order to feel better! Cutting out unhealthy foods, taking herbal or probiotic supplements and drinking dandelion tea can make a world of difference in their overall wellbeing; helping them get back on track quickly so they can enjoy life without feeling weighed down by all that angry gut bacteria! So don't worry moms – there are steps you can take to detoxify even after an indulgent holiday season!