Balancing Caution with Connection in The Age of Coronavirus — Thanksgiving Gathering & Dining Tips

This Thanksgiving Day is going to be a challenge for all of us — especially those who go to great lengths to maintain their health and well-being. Before getting into today’s post, please take a few minutes to watch the below message from Restoration Healthcare Co-founder & Medical Director, Dr. Sunny Raleigh:

For starters, we should all probably heed strong suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging us all to curtail travel for this particular holiday and avoid large family or friend gatherings altogether.

Sadly, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more people across the nation are testing positive for the virus named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). And here in Southern California, we’re not immune from the devastation the disease has the potential to cause. As a result, Los Angeles banned outdoor dining at restaurants this week, and the State of California has declared an overnight curfew that will remain in effect for the next three weeks.

On the plus side — and we definitely need some cheerful news — both Zoom and Microsoft Teams are offering their respective videoconferencing platforms for free and without a time limit on Thanksgiving Day. This enables families to safely celebrate and share the holiday nationwide from their homes, thus remaining safe and connected. Just visit Zoom or Microsoft Teams to sign up for a free account.

Secondly, three pharmaceutical companies have announced vaccines for COVID-19 in just the past week, with each suggesting delivery beginning as early as January 2021. While it’s not our place to recommend a vaccine, it’s important to know that they’re being worked on.

In the meantime, we all should continue to follow the health edicts that we were taught earlier this year, which include:

• Wear a face mask. This is probably the best Rx for avoiding the virus.
• And speaking of hands, wash, wash, wash. At least 20 seconds. In hot water.
• Remain six feet from family and friends in small gatherings — preferably held in outdoor settings.
• If entertaining indoors, keep the windows open.
• Ask your guests to bring their own food, drinks, disposable plates, cups and utensils. That could include single-use salad dressing and condiments.
• Refrain from hanging around the kitchen or wherever food is being handled.
• If you have a food allergy or sensitivity, bring food you can eat.

Moving on, below are three dietary aids that you may find useful for digestive issues that might crop up as a result of a big holiday meal:

1. The first suggestion is enzymes that have lipase and ox bile. These will help your gallbladder or liver.
2. Secondly, we recommend a healthy probiotic to fight back against foods containing yeast and sugar you might take in over the holiday.
3. Finally, if you’re prone to indigestion, consider our Aloe Vera Honey Protocol:

Ingredients

• • Organic aloe vera leaves (you can buy aloe vera plants at your local nursery)
  • Raw organic honey (preferably Manuka)

Blending the Aloe Vera and Honey

1. 1. Wash, peel, and blend the aloe vera leaves in a blender.
   2. Next, blend equal parts of aloe vera and honey.
   3. Pour into a glass jar, close tightly, and store in fridge.

Preparing the daily drink

1. 1. Shake jar containing the aloe vera and honey to blend thoroughly.
   2. Mix 1–2 tablespoons of the aloe vera and honey mixture into 8–10 ounces of warm water.
   3. Drink 1 hour before breakfast and 2–3 hours after dinner.
   4. Repeat every day for two months.

Important: The Aloe Vera Honey Protocol may not resolve the underlying causes of gastrointestinal issues. Proper nutrition, exercise, and other approved Restoration Healthcare treatments may be required to restore a healthy balance of gut flora and enable the body to heal any damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

Finally, please be safe this holiday season, and again, seriously discuss traveling outside of your immediate surroundings to visit relatives whom you love, but have no idea who they may be been in contact with in recent weeks. It’s tough not spending time and dining with loved ones at Thanksgiving. But this year, it’s a small sacrifice to make, and when you consider the health-related alternatives, is just makes sense.