Holiday Gut Health Survival Guide for El Paso Families
How ChiroMed Integrated Medicine in El Paso, TX, Keeps Your Stomach Happy All Season Long
The holidays in El Paso bring tamales, posole, lights on San Jacinto Plaza, and family time – but they can also get bloating, heartburn, gas, and bathroom emergencies that nobody wants. If you’re tired of loosening your belt after every party or waking up with acid reflux, you’re not alone. Rich foods, extra drinks, stress, and late nights throw your gut off track fast. The good news? The team at ChiroMed Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare on the East Side of El Paso knows exactly how to fix it – and keep it fixed.
At ChiroMed on Lee Trevino Drive, Dr. Alexander Jimenez (DC, APRN, FNP-BC) and his nurse practitioners combine chiropractic care, functional medicine, nutrition plans, and stress management tools to get to the root of holiday tummy troubles. No quick pills – just real solutions that work with your body.
Why Your Gut Rebels During the Holidays (And Why El Paso Winters Make It Worse)
Big plates of enchiladas, creamy dips, champagne, and sugary pan dulce slow digestion and feed harmful bacteria. Add the desert air and cold fronts that roll through El Paso, and your gut moves even slower (United Digestive, n.d.). Stress from holiday shopping at Cielo Vista or hosting family can literally slow digestion by spiking cortisol (GI Associates & Endoscopy Center, n.d.a).
- Common holiday gut wreckers:
- Fatty and fried foods (tamales, chiles rellenos, pecan pie)
- Alcohol and sparkling drinks (margaritas, champagne, Mexican Coke)
- Low fiber (skipping salads for more carne)
- Stress and poor sleep (late-night posada parties)
- Less movement (staying inside when it’s cold)
These habits throw off your gut microbiome – the trillions of good bacteria that keep everything running smoothly. When the balance tips, you get bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn that can last into January (News-Medical, 2025; Bare Chiropractic, n.d.).
The Most Common Holiday Gut Problems El Paso Patients Bring to ChiroMed
Every December, the phones at ChiroMed light up with the same complaints:
- “I feel like a balloon after eating.”
- “Heartburn keeps me awake after parties.”
- “I haven’t gone to the bathroom in days.”
- “My IBS is flaring worse than ever.”
These symptoms are your body’s way of saying the nervous system and gut are out of sync. That’s where ChiroMed’s integrated approach shines.
How ChiroMed Integrated Medicine Fixes Holiday Gut Issues – Fast
Dr. Jimenez and the team don’t just hand you antacids. They look at the whole picture:
- Chiropractic Adjustments for the Vagus Nerve: Gentle adjustments to the upper neck and mid-back calm the vagus nerve – the main highway between the brain and the gut. This switches your body from “stress mode” to “rest-and-digest” mode, easing bloating and reflux in as little as one visit (Harvard Health Publishing, 2019).
- Functional Medicine Testing & Custom Nutrition Plans. As a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Jimenez orders simple stool tests when needed to see exactly which bacteria are out of balance. Then the team builds an El Paso-friendly plan: more beans and roasted nopales for fiber, fermented foods like curtido or kombucha, and cutting back on holiday trigger foods.
- Targeted Supplements That Actually Work
- High-potency probiotics (20–50 billion CFUs) to rebuild good bacteria
- Digestive enzymes to break down heavy holiday meals
- Magnesium and vitamin D (most El Paso patients are low in winter)
- Herbal blends for quick heartburn or constipation relief
- Stress & Movement Tools You Can Use at Home. The clinic teaches quick breathing exercises, chair yoga stretches, and short sunset walks around Ascarate Park to keep stress low and bowels moving.
- Real patient wins at ChiroMed El Paso:
- “I used to dread Christmas dinner. After two adjustments and probiotics, I ate tamales with no bloating!” – Maria R.
- “Dr. Jimenez fixed my reflux without meds. I finally slept through the night.” – Carlos G.
Simple Holiday Gut Tips from the ChiroMed Team
- Eat slowly – put the fork down between bites
- Drink water between margaritas (add lime – it helps digestion)
- Take a 10-minute walk after dinner (even around the neighborhood lights)
- Add a side of calabacitas or ensalada de nopales to every plate
- Get adjusted before the big parties – it keeps your nervous system calm
Don’t Wait Until January – Start Feeling Better This Week
If holiday eating has your stomach in knots, call ChiroMed Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare in El Paso today. New patients can often get in the same week, and many plans cover chiropractic and functional medicine visits.
ChiroMed Integrated Medicine 7019 Lee Trevino Dr, El Paso, TX 79925 (915) 850-0900 Open Monday–Friday + Saturday mornings
Let Dr. Alexander Jimenez and the team help you enjoy tamales, luminarias, and family time—without the gut drama.
References
Bare Chiropractic. (n.d.). Post-holiday gut health: How inflammation can carry into the new year. https://barechiropractic.com/post-holiday-gut-health-how-inflammation-can-carry-into-the-new-year/
GI Associates & Endoscopy Center. (n.d.a). The effect of holiday stress on the gastrointestinal system. https://gi.md/the-effect-of-holiday-stress-on-the-gastrointestinal-system/
Harvard Health Publishing. (2019). Brain-gut connection explains why integrative treatments can help relieve digestive ailments. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/brain-gut-connection-explains-why-integrative-treatments-can-help-relieve-digestive-ailments-2019041116411
Jimenez, A. (n.d.). ChiroMed Integrated Medicine – El Paso, TX. https://dralexjimenez.com/
News-Medical. (2025). How the holidays can impact digestion and gut health. https://www.news-medical.net/whitepaper/20251201/How-the-holidays-can-impact-digestion-and-gut-health.aspx
United Digestive. (n.d.). Why your digestive system needs extra care during the winter months. https://www.uniteddigestive.com/why-your-digestive-system-needs-extra-care-during-the-winter-months/