It’s easy to run out of energy before the holiday shopping and entertaining whirl is finished for another season. There are plenty of natural remedies (www.alternativemedicine.com), however, to help alleviate unexpected minor aches and pains that may suddenly make you feel like a party pooper.

Indulge in too much rich food and drink? Grate a tablespoon full of fresh GINGER into a cup of boiling water and let steep for 15 minutes, then sip slowly for fast upset stomach relief. Cooked OKRA or a ripe BANANA mashed with honey and cinnamon are also soothing to your stomach when you’re suddenly feeling queasy. Drinking tea made with fresh MINT after a big meal also quiets indigestion.

For fast relief of heartburn, blend CELERY, GARLIC, PARSLEY, CARROTS and spring water in a juicer and sip slowly. Drinking tea made with fresh GINGER right after a meal also helps ward off heartburn.

If something from the holiday buffet has you running to the bathroom, drink plenty of fluids, and peel an APPLE, scraping out the insides to eat. The pectin content puts a quick stop to diarrhea.

If you’re dehydrated or have eaten too much cheese, adding FIGS or PRUNES to your diet will help keep your digestion and elimination system regular.

Feeling a head cold coming on just when you need to feel in the pink? Hot chicken soup heated with chopped fresh GARLIC and sliced fresh GINGER can help relieve that stuffy feeling in your head and chest. Make a meal of foods that are rich in Vitamin C, including CITRUS FRUIT, KIWIFRUIT, CABBAGE, PEPPERS and GREEN BEANS, STRAWBERRIES, TOMATOES and MANGOES. Fresh WATERCRESS added as a salad topping helps ease a runny nose and cough. Stuffy sinuses also benefit from a cocktail blending fresh HORSERADISH, LEMON juice and water.

Throat feeling sore and scratchy? Make homemade syrup of freshly squeezed LEMON juice and honey.

PEARS continue to be an excellent value in the FRUIT category, with COMICE and BARLETT the best to enjoy uncooked and for snacking. BOSC and D’ANJOU are good choices for poaching and baking as desserts.

STARFRUIT, also called CARAMBOLA, is now in season. Add slices of this fragrant FRUIT to salads or as a dessert offering, brush slices with LEMON juice and cane sugar, broil and serve over frozen yogurt or ice cream.

LADY APPLES are the perfect combination of green and red to grace Christmas buffet tables, roast as a side dish for lamb or cook to create APPLE sauce. RED DELICIOUS and GRANNY SMITH APPLES are also in good supply.

Prices are decreasing on HASS AVOCADOS and quality is very good.

RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES and BLUEBERRIES are moderately priced and in steady supply.

SEEDLESS WATERMELON is among the best choices in the MELON category.

KIWIFRUIT is plentiful. Peel, slice and serve atop pudding.

Winter marks peak production for many CITRUS FRUITS, with CARA CARA NAVEL ORANGES, LIMES and GRAPEFRUIT among the best values.

BING CHERRIES are among the first summer FRUIT arrivals from off-shore sources, with prices at premium levels.

Quality is excellent on whole fresh PINEAPPLE, with prices decreasing thanks to plentiful volume.

Last chance for CRANBERRIES and POMEGRANATES before the season winds down.

BANANAS are in steady supply; use them with protein powder in a power smoothie.

GREEN CABBAGE is among the most economical VEGETABLE offerings this week, rich in fiber and anti-cancer agents.

BLACK-EYED PEAS are now available, a traditional first dish of the New Year for many to bring good fortune.

ICEBERG LETTUCE, as well as RED and GREEN LEAF LETTUCES are plentiful and an excellent value for salads.

Salad fixings in steady supply now include CUCUMBERS, RADISHES, SPROUTS, GREEN ONIONS, CELERY, CARROTS and JICAMA.

Prices are moderate on RED ROSE and WHITE ROSE POTATOES, with volume also steady on YAMS and RUSSETS.

GREEN BEANS, an excellent source of fiber, continue to be plentiful at very reasonable prices. Stir fry in PEANUT oil with GARLIC, salt and a little sugar.

ZUCCHINI SQUASH prices are decreasing. Great stuffed with MUSHROOMS, breadcrumbs and TOMATO sauce and baked as a side dish or main course.

GARLIC is plentiful and the best immune booster for the body –supply now is plentiful and prices are very reasonable.

Plentiful volume has BROCCOLI prices decreasing.

SWEET BROWN ONIONS are plentiful at economical prices.

Good values continue on TURNIPS and PARSNIPS for roasting.

FLORAL THIS WEEK:

Christmas bouquets filled with CARNATIONS, ROSES, ASTERS, MUMS, DAISIES and fragrant EUCALYPTUS are among the best cut FLORAL value. In blooming potted plants, look for MUMS, POINSETTIAS, AFRICAN VIOLETS and MINIATURE ROSES. Remember to keep all holiday plants and flowers away from children and pets because many leaves are toxic.

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