Health Tips for the Festive Season
Written By Lisa Pearson
It’s that time of year again, you know the one – it seems to come round quicker and quicker each year, can you believe it is nearly 15 years since the new millennium! (OK now I feel really old!!) But hey, we are still here and every day is a blessing so Merry Christmas!! …..and even if you don’t celebrate Christmas odds are you are going to get caught up in the festive season and here are a few tips on how to stay healthy over the coming weeks - pay attention because it could save you a lot of time and effort in the New Year as you won’t need to shift any excess weight! Let the learning begin! 1) Think about why you really need to indulge in all the cheese, crackers, biscuits and massive tins of chocolate that appear at this time of year. Make this the year that you do not get caught up in the unnecessary sugar, fat and gluten items in the shiny packages with Santa on the front and instead create some amazing buffets with vegetable and fruit trays, lay out some prawn platters, steer away from the salted peanuts nuts in the tins and crack open (literally) nuts that are still in the shell. They are everywhere this time of year so get them while you can! Keep you and your loved ones “Merry and Light”! 2) If you have been reading my previous blog posts you will know that staying away from processed foods and only eating one ingredient foods is always the order of the day but do your family and friends know that? No? Well let’s give them the gift of health education this year. Host a healthy holiday gathering. Ask each guest to bring a dish – appetizer, entree, side, salad, dessert, drink, etc., to the party. At the same time make sure you tell them exactly what to bring and what kind of foods are acceptable. The rule is they must make it as delicious as possible. See who comes out on top, amazing what a little competition brings out in people. 3) Exercise! Don’t forget it, especially during the holidays!! Do something different and make it a family activity – get outside and go for a walk, head to the playground and put a little family exercise circuit together. Whatever you do keep active, it will help with not only keeping your appetite in check but you will find it an awesome way to relive stress as well! 4) Turn out the lights. Sleep!! During this high-stress season it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re getting adequate shuteye. 5) Stay hydrated – with WATER!!! Thirst is often confused with hunger. Dehydration might drive you to the box of chocolates and also leave you drowsy. Choose water instead of eggnog, cider, alcohol, cocoa, soda, and juices. Save room for the good stuff – the food!! 6) If you are going to indulge then make sure you enjoy your FAVORITE seasonal treats in moderation. (A whole tub of ice cream is NOT moderation!!) Be careful though, once the brain gets the stimulation of sugar and or refined carbohydrates it craves more of it, sometimes uncontrollably and what was going to be just once chocolate turns into a whole box before you know it. Enjoy yourself but be mindful, greed is not good! 7) Try thinking a bit more about the Christmas Dinner. What is it really? Well, if you are careful then it can be an amazing meal of lean protein and loads of wonderful vegetables. It is only when we start trying to make it elaborate that we make a mess of things so stay away from the gluten laden gravy and make your own, be careful of the high sugar sauces and use only the best grass fed goose fat to roast your potatoes! 8) Been invited out? Got a Christmas work party to go too? Then make sure you are well prepared in advance. Find out where you are going and know what is going to be there food wise, that way you know what to avoid and what to choose when you get there. By being prepared in advance there will be no hasty decisions to be made when the time comes . 9) Keep in mind the true meaning of the holidays. It’s not about food, presents, decorations, and parties. It’s about being with the people that we care about most. As long as you remember that; you are sure to maintain your health, sanity, and waist size this season. 10) New Year’s Eve let the party get started!! So it’s New Years and the drinks are flowing, everyone is in the party mood, you have a whole New Year to look forward too, new goals to achieve and New Year’s resolutions everywhere you look. Same as last year? Same as every year? Do it differently this year, if you have a drink on New Year’s Eve, make it one at midnight and make it a really good one! Have the finest champagne or other tipple of choice and here is why. Like food, the better quality the product the more pure and less toxic it will be. If you’re choosing a spirit have one that is triple distilled, the best red wines will have the most resveratrol (an amazing antioxidant) and if you are going for beer, make it gluten free and organic (yes, you can buy them). Your body will thank you the next day and you will be clear headed and able to face the New Year with excitement and enthusiasm instead of a headache and a fry up! Whatever you decide to do have an amazing time, I wish you and your family and wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year! Paul Burgess SAC dip. (cn) SAC Dip. (pt) SAC Dip. (AnAg) Have you ever felt as though your health is just not where it should be? Feel tired all the time? Had health issues that just do not go away? Suffer from IBS or any kind of digestive complaint? Need to lose some weight? Whatever your needs why not speak to Paul Burgess. He is the Clinical Nutritionist who writes all our Blogs. Not only is he a highly respected nutritionist in his field but also an ambassador for nutritional supplement companies and was awarded ‘Over 40’s Bodybuilder’ by the prestigious Bodybuilding.com website so he really knows his stuff! His mission in the industry is, ‘To help as many people as possible realise the full potential of a healthy body using real food and applying the latest knowledge available’ If you are looking for the best advice in the industry, contact Paul at paul@athleticnutrition.tv or check out his website www.athleticnutrition.tv 
