Top tips for staying healthy at Christmas

Christmas time is often a time of excess and it’s been shown that many people manage to put on over 5 pounds in weight during the festivities. So how do you remain healthy and not sabotage all the good you have done over the past year, while still enjoying yourself?

Don’t deprive yourself

I work on this a lot with my clients. The dieting culture has made many of us see food as bad and good and so we deny ourselves - only to overindulge when we feel “allowed” such as at Christmas. If you deprive yourself over the year then it’s easy to binge and overeat when food that you have denied yourself is suddenly available. It’s easier to eat small amounts of all food regularly than deny yourself what you like and then binge eat. This can lead to a cycle of deprivation and binge, which is no good for your health or your mind. Balance and moderation are the key words here, which I know is often hard when everyone around you seems to be buying up all the sweet tins in the supermarket. 

Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to making poor food choices. Studies have found that more calories are consumed the day after a drinking session. However you don’t want to deny yourself a glass of bubbly, or whatever your tipple is, when you go to a party or are out with friends. So alternate each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink and make sure you drink lots of water both before the party and when you get home. 

Blood sugar balance

I am a big believer in making sure your blood sugar is balanced at all times. See previous blog post on this topic. If you are prone to feeling ‘hangry’ or suffer from mood swings then it probably means your blood sugar is out of whack and will need some work to remedy. Eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates will lead to blood sugar levels that fluctuate throughout the day. Keep sugary refined foods to a minimum and try to make your own snacks using just fruit to sweeten. Once your blood sugar is balanced and you don’t reach for the sweet treat, then your body will stop craving them. A teaspoon of cinnamon a day can help to balance your blood sugar levels. We have lots of festive treats that help will help feeling you are indulging - but still maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Our Christmas energy baubles would be perfect.

Antioxidants

Make sure you are eating lots of antioxidant rich food during the festive season. This means lots of colourful vegetables and fruit. Eat the rainbow and make sure you are including different colours of vegetables and fruit at every meal. 

Liver friendly food

During this time of year your liver might need an extra hand, so support it with lots of liver friendly foods. If your liver is in top shape then it will be better able to help digest fat and detoxify any alcohol. Lots of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, pak choi, rocket, cauliflower, kale and watercress will all help your liver. Other foods that help your liver include artichoke, beetroot, garlic, ginger, parsley, coriander, turmeric and ginger. Our festive and seasonal sprout salad celebrates all the festive flavours of Christmas such as brussel sprouts, chestnuts and pomegranates, while also supporting our liver.

Sleep

Make sure you are getting lots of sleep. Burning the candle at both ends will leave your immune system struggling and unable to cope. This will mean that you are more likely to pick up any bugs doing the rounds. Poor sleep also impacts in your food choices the next day - meaning you are more likely to reach for the high fat and high sugar treats. Aim for 7-8 hours sleep a night.

Exercise

You might be tempted to drop the exercise class or the run if you are feeling below par – however this is the time to keep up with your exercise routine. If you can’t manage your normal routine then make sure you are getting out in the fresh air for a brisk walk. Raising your heart rate will help with any overindulgence and assist in your recovery.

2020 has been a hard year for us all and so above all be kind to yourself, hold your family close and have a very Merry Christmas.