9 Ways To Stay Healthy This Christmas

We know every Christmas special under the sun will be showing on the TV, It will be hot outside, there will be crowds of people but that’s no excuse to stay inside in the air con all day and sit on the couch! Encourage the whole family to get out for some activity at some point – ideally, after dinner to aid digestion. The more activity, the better, so take along any new outdoor gifts, like bikes, scooters, footballs or Frisbees, or play old-fashioned games.

With all the social gatherings, family get together’s and catch up’s over the festive period, those alcohol units can really add up. Mulled wine on Christmas eve, Bucks Fizz with breakfast, wine with dinner, Baileys, brandy… the list goes on! So, do try to keep tabs on how much you are drinking, and intersperse alcoholic drinks with water or Soda water.

Recent research suggests that we consume around 3,000 calories in our Christmas dinner – more than the entire recommended daily intake for a grown man! This can not only contribute to weight gain but also to indigestion and heartburn – not to mention lethargy for the rest of the day, reducing the chances of you getting outside to burn it off. Instead of gorging yourself on Christmas dinner, eat a normal-sized meal and then take a 20-minute break to see if you are still hungry (it takes this long for the brain to register that the stomach is full). The chances are, you’ll realise you’ve had enough.

Illnesses can be rife at Christmas, partly because many of us travel around the country, exposing ourselves – and others – to different viruses. Minimise your risks by maintaining a healthy immune system (eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and continuing your training will help), so you are more able to fight off any viruses.

‘Tis the season to be jolly’ but jolly is the last thing many of us feel with overspending, cooking, cleaning, endless ‘to do’ lists and pressure from family members. Try to keep a sense of humor and proportion. Is it really the end of the world if the carrots are overcooked or if the mantelpiece is a bit dusty? Do you really care about Auntie’s disapproval of the fact that you and your partner are living together and aren’t married? Remember, Christmas is just one day out of 365. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Let’s be honest, most of us get through the entire Christmas period eating no more fruit than the raisin’s in the Christmas pudding. It just doesn’t really feature on the Christmas menu. But at this time of late nights, overindulging and partying, it’s more important than ever to get your vitamins and minerals, to help you stay in good health. Ensure that your Christmas shopping list enables you to fill up the fruit bowl and get your recommended daily portions of fruit and veg. (And no, Champagne doesn’t count as fruit!)

It’s hard to avoid the consumerism that has overtaken Christmas, but it doesn’t all have to be about giving or receiving gifts. Try to do something for others this festive season, whether it’s baking some extra healthy food for an elderly neighbor, inviting an acquaintance who doesn’t have family around them to your home or helping out with a local food banks.

Christmas is a time of plenty, and with nuts, chocolates, mince pies and ginger bread men, wherever you look, it would be unrealistic and boring to suggest that you don’t eat any treats over the festive period! But rather than mindlessly chowing on whatever is in front you, think about whether you really want it, or are just eating it because it’s there.

Instead of zoning out in front of the TV, keep your mind active by playing games like Trivial Pursuit or Charades. This is also a great way of getting family together. If you aren’t a ‘game’ person, engage your mind by setting up any new gadgets, such as Playstations, iPads, mobile phones or laptops.

And most importantly, have a happy, healthy festive season!