How to reset your digestion after the holidays

TL:DR Rich foods, alcohol, and a lack of routine can lead to sluggish digestion and bloating. Haskap supports your microbiome and gut barrier while reducing gut inflammation.

  • A woman with her hands on her tummy, suggesting digestive distress.

After all those rich foods, sugary treats, and perhaps a few too many festive drinks over the festive season, you might be feeling a little bit lacklustre as the new year begins. The culprit? It’s usually your digestive system, struggling to get back up to speed after all those delicious indulgences. January is the perfect time to reset and focus on gut health, and Haskap berry juice can help you do just that.

Packed with anthocyanins, polyphenols, and antioxidants, Haskap berries are a natural way to support your gut microbiome, reduce inflammation, and restore balance. Let’s explore how this superfood can help you start the year with a healthier, happier gut.

How the Holidays Impact Your Gut

Holiday indulgences can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut microbiota, leading to bloating, sluggish digestion, inflammation, and even skin complaints. Foods high in sugar and fat can feed harmful bacteria, while alcohol and stress can weaken the gut barrier, making it harder for your digestive system to function optimally.

The good news? Your gut is resilient, and with the right foods, you can help it bounce back quickly and sustainably.

How Haskap Supports Digestive Health

1. Rich in Anthocyanins to Restore Gut Balance

Haskap berries are one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol that has been shown to improve gut health. Studies have found that anthocyanins can:

  • Modulate gut microbiota: Anthocyanins promote the growth of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (the strains you might already buy as a probiotic supplement), while reducing harmful bacteria.
  • Improve the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio: You likely haven’t heard of this ratio, but it is a key marker of gut health. Anthocyanins help restore balance, particularly after acute disruptions caused by high-fat or high-sugar diets.
  • Boost short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production: SCFAs like butyrate and acetate are essential for gut health. Anthocyanins help provide energy through SCFA to colon cells while simultaneously reducing inflammation.

Haskap’s sky-high anthocyanin content makes it a powerful ally in resetting your gut after holiday indulgences.

2. Polyphenols for a Healthy Microbiome

Polyphenols, another key compound in Haskap berries, act as prebiotics, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut. What’s a prebiotic? Probiotics help build a thriving colony of healthy bacteria, whereas prebiotics provide the food your healthy bacteria need. Research shows that polyphenols:

  • Increase the production of SCFAs, which inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
  • Strengthen the gut barrier by increasing the production of mucin and tight junction proteins, which prevent harmful substances from leaking into the bloodstream.

Incorporating Haskap into your diet means you’re giving your microbiome supportive nutrients to help it thrive.

3. Antioxidants to Reduce Gut Inflammation

Haskap berries are packed to the brim with antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress in the gut. Oxidative stress can damage the gut lining and lead to inflammation, contributing to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Studies have shown that antioxidants like those in Haskap can:

  • Protect the gut lining from damage caused by free radicals.
  • Reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, promoting faster recovery after periods of dietary stress.

4. Supports Gut Barrier Function

A healthy gut barrier is essential for preventing "leaky gut," a condition where harmful substances pass through the gut lining into the bloodstream. This has been getting a lot of media attention in recent years, and you may even know someone who has experienced it. Thankfully, anthocyanins and polyphenols have been shown to:

  • Increase the production of tight junction proteins, which strengthen the gut barrier.
  • Improve intestinal morphology, including villi length and goblet cell production. In non-scientific language, it improves nutrient absorption, which benefits every system in your body.

How to Incorporate Haskap Into Your Diet

Haskap is as versatile as it is powerful, and in fantastic news, it also tastes delicious. Here are some simple ways to add it to your routine:

  • Morning Boost: Start your day with a shot of Haskapür 100% Pure Haskap Juice for a concentrated dose of gut-friendly anthocyanins.
  • Smoothies: Blend Haskap juice or Haskap Berry Preserve into your favourite smoothie for a tangy-sweet twist. Extra gut health boost: add a tablespoon of natural, probiotic yogurt too.
  • Oatmeal or Yogurt: Add a spoonful of Haskap Berry Preserve to oatmeal or yogurt for a fibre-rich breakfast.
  • Teas and Warm Drinks: Mix Haskap juice with hot water, honey, and a pinch of ginger for a soothing, gut-friendly tea. Add a green tea bag for a caffeinated version.
  • Salad Dressings: Use Haskap juice to create a tangy vinaigrette that pairs perfectly with leafy greens. Vitamin C from berries such as Haskap enhances your ability to absorb iron, so pair it with dark leafy greens for a salad superboost!

The Science Behind Haskap and Gut Health

Haskap’s benefits are backed by science, and taste-tested by you. It’s easy to incorporate things that taste great, which makes Haskap juice the perfect new year habit, but here’s a closer look at the research:

  • Anthocyanins and Gut Microbiota: A systematic review found that anthocyanins improve the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and increase SCFA production, both of which are key markers of gut health.
  • Polyphenols and Gut Barrier Function: Polyphenols in Haskap strengthen the gut barrier by increasing mucin production and tight junction proteins, which prevent harmful substances from entering the bloodstream.
  • Antioxidants and Inflammation: Antioxidants in Haskap reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the gut, promoting faster recovery after dietary stress.

Want to read more? Here are the studies we referenced in this article:

·        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8074038/

·        https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-28764-0

·        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4639587/

·        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8533511/

So what are you waiting for?

After the holiday season, your gut deserves a reset, and Haskap is here to help. With its rich anthocyanin content, prebiotic polyphenols, and powerful antioxidants, Haskap supports a healthy microbiome, reduces inflammation, and strengthens the gut barrier. It’s an easy and delicious way to help your body recover from the festivities, making that New Year's fitness goal all the easier to stick to.

Ready to give your gut the care it deserves? Explore our Haskapür 100% Pure Haskap Juice and Haskap Berry Preserve to start your journey to better digestive health today.

👉 Shop now and reset your gut with Haskap:
Haskapür 100% Pure Haskap Juice
Haskap Berry Preserve

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