There’s no doubt that December is a busy month. This happy time of year is synonymous with feasting and celebrating with family and friends. However normal healthy habits often take a back seat for an extended period this time of year, which can leave you feeling like you need a holiday to recover from your holiday. This is the time of year that many people struggle through, Christmas parties, social commitments, shopping, end of year work functions….. and then there’s New Years Eve to contend with!
This can ultimately lead to overindulgence in December and the usual heroic New Year’s resolution come the start of the year. These often include – This year I will…… reach my ideal weight, get some regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, give up smoking, find some more time for me, have at least three alcohol free days per week, the list goes on! It is one of the reasons all health practitioners are usually run off their feet in January.
Instead of finding yourself run down, exhausted and possibly carrying a few extra kilos in January why not have a survival plan to help you sail through the festive season and emerge in the New Year feeling healthy, happy and vibrant, ready to tackle the year ahead.
Overindulgence
There’s nothing like a well earned treat at the end of a busy year, that extra slice of Christmas pudding, that last chocolaty treat left on the plate, after all why should the children have all the fun on Christmas day? In the true spirit of celebrating with a feast I couldn’t agree more – however there is a way to moderate your intake and still have a good time. My number one tip for keeping the excess kilos at bay is – make sure you have breakfast! Lots of people forget this simple meal on Christmas day and end up eating more than is necessary. Try to have a healthy source of protein in your breakfast such as poached eggs with spinach. This will make sure you don’t sit down to Christmas lunch hungry. The protein and nutrients in your breakfast will help balance your blood sugar levels and moderate any binge eating you might otherwise end up doing. Try to keep to your regular diet during all of your other meals over the festive season. If you’re going out to a social function, eat beforehand, don’t arrive hungry! Of course the Italians, famous for there Christmas feasting, know how to manage things this time of year, by taking the traditional stroll around the neighborhood after their feast, a lesson we could all take on board.
Alcohol – sink or swim
Then there’s the question of how to moderate alcohol intake over this time of year. Alcohol alone is responsible for much of the weight gain common during this time of year, not to mention bloating, fatigue and sore heads in the morning. My top tip to help you navigate this sometimes tricky social situation is make sure you have a glass of water in between drinks. Dehydration is one of the main problems caused by alcohol which contributes to that nasty hangover many people find themselves with the next day.
Monitor your alcohol intake, don’t let people continually fill your glass, as it can lead to unintentional overindulgence. B group vitamins will help support your liver over the festive season as will lots of fresh vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Alcohol is ultimately a toxin that your body has to rid itself of and overindulgence can overload the liver. Remember there’s a big difference between Christmas cheer and waking up with a hangover the next day, moderate you alcohol intake your body will thank you for it!
Pacing yourself
Lots of people take on too much at this time of year, social and family commitments can leave us exhausted. For some people Christmas can be a very stressful time of year, not all family gatherings are stress free and as for battling the crowds at the shopping centers, a recipe for stress. Be kind to yourself, try not to take on too much and remember to support your body during this time with a healthy diet, a regular multivitamin and rest when you can. With a bit of planning you should be able to sail through the festive season. If stress is an issue for you at this time of year herbal medicine can help to support your body and reduce anxiety.
A Word on New Year’s Resolutions
They are there for a reason, many people take stock of their life and their health at this time of year and resolve to make positive changes. Just remember that these resolutions need to be followed through and don’t just apply to the first few weeks of January. 2011 can be the start of a new era in health, if you would like to make some long lasting changes that will benefit your health now and into the future we can help!
Merry Christmas
The clinic will be closed over Christmas and the first day back is Saturday, January the 15th. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my patients a very happy Christmas and all the best in health and happiness in the year to come.