5 Tips To Stay Healthy over the Holidays

Holiday parties have you eating more cookies than usual? Relatives staying at your house causing extra stress? Or maybe all the holiday cheer is keeping you up later at night? Tis the season for abandoning our regular routines and eating habits.

Here’s a few tips to keep you feeling jolly during the revelry:

  1. Take digestive enzymes. Grandma’s homemade Bailey’s recipe is too delicious to pass up but added to her lasagna and cream cheese brownies your belly may be groaning by the end of the day. Pop a couple of enzymes during your meal to give your gut some help. I recommend Digest Gold as a quality brand sold in natural grocery stores. Ginger and mint herbal teas also work wonders for soothing a full stomach.
  2. Drink water in between cocktails, beer and wine. Choose the every-other drink method to reduce the amount of alcohol you’re consuming. The time off between drinks gives your body a chance to process the liquor and the water helps to ward off dehydration.
  3. Don’t skip meals. The idea of “saving room for the big meal” doesn’t really work. If you don’t eat before the big meal you’ll drop into the low blood sugar state (think “hangry” and tired) and then overeat at the meal since you’re starving.  Eat regular meals to keep your body balanced and nourished and your mind jolly and bright.
  4. Keeping shooting for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Sure you’ll be up late on New Year’s Eve but can you sleep in the next day? Think of sleep as an essential nutrient for your immune health, metabolism, brain power and hormone balance.
  5. Talk a walk. A short walk after meals helps digestion. A stroll during your busy day (say after fighting the crowds at the mall or after a long day with the in-laws) reduces your stress levels. It’s the perfect way to get some alone time and fresh air. Winter is a beautiful time of year in a very unique way. While outside take notice of the natural world in its dormant state. It’s pretty remarkable that in just 3-4 months it will completely transform again. The winter solstice is on the 21st and marks the slow return of the light with longer days. My favorite thing to do this time of year is stroll my neighborhood at night with my dog and look at the Christmas lights. Whatever you like to do outside, bundle up and get out there once a day.

Stay well and eat some delicious food.

Happy Holidays!

Jen

 

Disclaimer: Nutrition therapy is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or cure for any disease, or as a substitute for medical care. Jen Marshall and Stacy St Germain are not licensed medical providers. Nutrition plans are not intended as a substitution for traditional medical care, nor should be interpreted as medical advice, but instead is an adjunctive and supportive therapy.