Christmas recipes & health tips to keep hangovers and belly bulge at bay
Christmas is the one time of the year when people tend to overindulge, only to regret it come the New Year. Eating the wrong foods, consuming too much alcohol and letting exercise regimes fall by the wayside are common during the festive season. Learn how to stay healthy this Christmas and avoid the post-Christmas hangover and belly bulge with the following Christmas recipes and health tips.
Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast.
Christmas morning can be a hectic time, especially if you have young children and family members staying over; breakfast is often skipped and many people tend to snack on chocolates, mince pies and biscuits instead. By eating breakfast you’re balancing your blood sugar levels and providing your body with fuel to keep you energised and your brain focussed. Eating breakfast also stops you snacking and reaching for unhealthy, sugar-laden foods.
Only serve healthy snacks
- hummus and vegetable sticks
- cashew nut cheeze, nuts and seeds
- spinach and quinoa balls
- sweet potato and lentil sliders
For sweet treats try:
Stay hydrated
Drink filtered water and herbal teas throughout the day. Try a coffee alternative like a turmeric latte or a caffeine-free chicory coffee. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and headaches. If you’re drinking alcohol during the day, ensure you drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated fluids in between.
Choose healthy Christmas dinner options
Fatty, processed, high-sugar foods not only make you feel sluggish and tired, they do nothing for your waistline. Load your plate with nutritious vegetables, choose quality proteins (such as quinoa, beans, peas, nuts) and healthy fats like olive oil, avocado and seeds. Try a healthy recipe from CNM’s Christmas Recipe eBook.
Support your liver by keeping alcohol and caffeine to a minimum. Drink fresh lemon juice in warm water to flush out toxins and use liver-cleansing herbs such as Milk Thistle, Schisandra and Dandelion root. Avoid Christmas hangovers by drinking non-alcoholic cocktails and drinks like a seedlip and chicory expresso martini or hibiscus-orange kefir. Discover other ways to support your liver naturally.
Keep active
Move your body regularly by going for walks or doing an online fitness class. Exercise is essential for mental health and mood, promoting blood flow through the body, for heart health and keeping your immune system and weight in check.
Get good quality sleep
Late nights and too much alcohol can play havoc with your sleep cycle, often resulting in exhaustion, mood swings and anxiety. Adopt a relaxing sleep routine, keep screen time to a minimum and ensure you get to bed on time. Try sleep-promoting herbs such as chamomile and passionflower to help you wind down before bed.
Make this Christmas your healthiest yet
Avoid a throbbing headache and an expanding waistline this Christmas by eating and drinking sensibly and healthily. Stay active, don’t overdo the alcohol or sweet treats and get good quality sleep. Choose a healthy Christmas menu and opt for healthy snacks such as hummus, nuts and seeds. If you do overindulge, ensure you support your liver with herbs and fluids to flush out toxins.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
