This post has been sponsored by Renew Life. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Diary of a Debutante possible!

The holidays are the time to kick back, relax, and indulge. In the past, I’ve been one of those women who beats herself up for giving into comfort food and delicious desserts around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fortunately, over the last few years, I’ve accepted that occasionally treating myself to some of the season’s sweetest and most gratifying joys is nowhere near bad. After all, indulging makes us human. Things get messy, though, when you combine relaxed food inhibitions with inactivity, stress, and a lack of “good-for-you” bacteria. Feeling stuffed and sluggish is never fun, not for your company and especially not for your self-confidence, so I’m sharing some natural hacks for reducing stomach bloating in today’s post!

Take a Daily Probiotic

Holidays or no holidays, caring for your gut is key. Taking a daily probiotic, like Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic, is so important. Why? Your gut is home to 70% of your immune system, which includes trillions of bacteria. Stress, changes in diet, and a variety of other natural factors can throw the whole shebang out of whack. Probiotics help restore digestive balance, ie. they make sure your digestive system is working as it should and support immune and vaginal health to help keep you (and your gut) healthy.

I suffered from severe gastritis a few years ago, so I don’t mess around with my gut health anymore. I personally take Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic, which includes 25 billion live cultures and 10 probiotic strands per capsule. I found a 90-count container at Sam’s Club (it’s the only place you can find it!), and I love that I don’t have to keep running to the store couple weeks to buy a new bottle. I don’t think I’ve missed a single probiotic in the past few years, and it’s made a huge difference in my energy levels, mood, and overall body image.

Get Moving

When you’re feeling most sluggish, there’s no faster remedy than getting up and getting moving. Not only does exercise give you endorphins (and endorphins make people happy), even just a quick walk around the block can provide relief from gas-related abdominal pain and help food move through your digestive tract.

Go Easy on Carbonated Drinks

I absolutely love sparkling water, but the fizz in carbonated beverages can make your stomach expand. If it’s the extra flavor your’e after, try drinking lemon, lime, or cucumber infused water instead. Peppermint tea is another great nighttime option, since it soothes your belly and alleviates digestive discomfort simultaneously.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking lots of water can help keep you hydrated and, contrary to what you’ve heard about water weight, can also help reduce bloating. How? The more water you drink, the more fluids your body releases, furthering along the digestive process. In addition to a slew of other well-known hydration benefits, drinking water can also help reduce the gases that cause you to feel bloated in the first place. 

Chew Your Food

Instead of worrying about what you’re eating, focus on savoring the flavor. Chew slow and steady to help reduce the amount of air you swallow (a major cause of bloating) and to slow down your consumption to help make sure you’re not overeating to the point of discomfort.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Finally, a good night’s sleep fixes just about everything, including stomach bloating. I know the holidays can be stressful, but if you sleep well, it’s likely that you’ll wake up happy and bloat free. Plus, you’ll feel energized, less stressed, and less likely to make bad bloat-inducing decisions throughout the day. 

I hope these tips for reducing stomach bloating were helpful, y’all. Don’t forget to look for the 90-count bottle of Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic at Sam’s Club— it’s a hard deal to beat! Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season!

Photography by Catherine Rhodes.