5 lifestyle tips for a healthy Christmas
By Jessah Robinson, Adv Dip (Nut Med)
While Christmas is an exciting time of the year, it can also bring about a lot of stress due to making plans for visiting family or organising a holiday and of course finding the time and money to shop for Christmas presents. Here are some self-care tips to have a more enjoyable Christmas:
1. Boost your immunity
Be proactive and boost your immunity, especially if you are stressed which decreases immunity and leaves you more susceptible to infections and viruses. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight free radicals and supports healthy immune system function. Immune-boosting foods to include in your diet are garlic, onion, leeks, broccoli, pineapple, berries, citrus fruits and fermented foods such as miso, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi.
2. Get moving
While it can be tempting to lounge around for the duration of the holiday period, this does not do your body any favours. Being active doesn’t have to mean going to the gym, you can combine family and fitness by organising to go for a walk, trying out your new bike or scooter or organising a friendly game of cricket or soccer. This way you are still getting exercise in as well as quality family time.
3. Remain calm
High levels of stress that occur on a regular basis are capable of causing or exacerbating so many health problems from anxiety and headaches to leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. That being said, thankfully there are several techniques for relieving stress such as listening to relaxing music, deep breathing exercises, confiding in a friend, doing some yoga or meditation or having some magnesium. Magnesium is a powerful mineral that relieves symptoms of stress and supports muscle relaxation.
4. Go easy on the alcohol
As Christmas is a time of celebration and festivities, it is likely you are going to want to celebrate the occasion with a few beverages. The best way to minimise the effects of alcohol aside from only having one or two glasses is to have a glass of water in between beverages. This will help to dilute the alcohol and flush it out of your system quicker. As your liver has to work overtime to breakdown and excrete alcohol, it is a good idea to take a liver tonic such as Livatone Plus to protect liver cells and support healthy liver detoxification.
5. Eat slowly
This is one of the simplest and most effective methods to promote calmness and aid digestion. Eating slowly encompasses mindful eating, which involves eating slowly in a relaxed environment, focusing on the taste of the food and the nutritious benefits it offers. The longer you chew food, the more time it gives your body to recognise that you are full, which supports easier weight loss or maintenance, greater satisfaction with meals and improved health and wellbeing. While it is always a good idea to eat slowly, it is especially needed during the Christmas period when you are likely to eat more than usual.
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