Welcome to Your First Week of Align®
You Just Took the First Step
In the first few days of taking Align, you may continue to experience occasional digestive upsets. This may be temporary while Align is working to balance your system.* Remember, the path to digestive health is a journey—stick with Align and you’ll be on your way to digestive peace.*
Tips for the Week:
Add Align into your lifestyle:
- Take one capsule daily. Store at room temperature, keeping capsules in original blister packaging until use.
- To make Align part of your daily routine, start by choosing a time when taking Align fits your lifestyle. When will you take Align daily?
I will take Align when I:
- Wake up and brush my teeth.
- Take my other vitamins and supplements.
- Eat a meal (note which one).
- Go to bed.
- Other
Other healthy diet and lifestyle tips for week one:
- Drink lots of water. Water keeps your body hydrated and helps keep you regular. Challenge yourself today to drink at least eight full glasses.
- Read food labels. Foods high in fat are harmful not only to your digestive health, but also to your total health. Look at the nutrition label; if total fat is listed as 5% DV or less (daily value percentage), the food is considered low-fat.
- Cut down on caffeine. Too much can send your stress levels soaring—and throw your digestive tract off balance. If you can't eliminate it completely, try to alternate caffeinated beverages with mineral water or decaffeinated tea.
- Soak away stress. A warm bath will help your muscles relax and ease any cramping. Plus, nothing beats a relaxing soak in the tub after a long, stressful day.
Recipe: Chicken Potpie with Corn-bread Crust
This healthy, down-home potpie is made with low-fat milk, extra veggies, and a tender, country-style topping instead of the usual pastry crust. To reduce preparation time, buy a rotisserie chicken at your market to shred (without skin) for the filling.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
Chicken filling:
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1-1/2 cups low-fat milk (1%)
12 ounces shredded, cooked chicken, without skin (3 cups)
1 package (10 ounces) frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1 package (10 ounces) frozen lima beans, thawed
Corn-bread crust:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cold margarine or butter
3/4 cup low-fat milk (1%)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare chicken filling: In 3-quart saucepan, melt margarine over medium-low heat. Add carrots and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, five minutes. Add broth, salt, pepper, and thyme; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl with a wire whisk, mix cornstarch and 1/2 cup milk until blended. Stir cornstarch mixture and remaining 1 cup milk into saucepan with carrots; heat to boiling over high heat. Boil, stirring, one minute. Stir in chicken, corn, and lima beans. Transfer mixture to shallow 2-1/2-quart casserole dish.
- Prepare corn-bread crust: In medium bowl, with fork, stir flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. With pastry blender or two knives used scissor-fashion, cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until blended and mixture thickens slightly. Pour mixture over filling; spread to form an even layer. Bake, uncovered, until filling is bubbling and top is golden, 35 minutes.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
About 440 calories (27% calories from fat), 32 g protein, 51 g carbohydrate, 13 g total fat (3 g saturated), 67 mg cholesterol, 960 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
Activity Idea: Cobra Pose
The Cobra Pose is a yoga position that can help you feel relaxed and reduce anxiety. It also can help stabilize digestion and minimize cramps. Please seek your physician's advice before beginning a new exercise routine.
- Lie facedown on the floor with your legs together and your hands palms down under your shoulders. Rest your forehead on the floor.
- Inhaling, push off with your hands, and lift your head and chest off the ground, tilting your head back.
- Hold for two or three deep breaths, and then exhale and slowly come down.
- Repeat two to five times.
