Surviving the Festive Season
During the Christmas and holiday season, or at any celebratory time for that matter, it is all to easy to drift away from healthy eating and lifestyle habits. The extra food and drinks that are not the usual part of a healthy daily routine can take their toll.
How can we regain a bit of control and help our bodies rid the excesses? Here are a few tips –
DON’T SKIMP ON BREAKFAST. You might think that going without breakfast will leave room for the party food but don’t do it. A good breakfast of eggs, avocado, some veggies and maybe a green smoothie will keep blood sugar levels balanced all day so you are less likely to be dipping into and over indulging in the crackers and dip or the sweet treats.
HYDRATE, HYDRATE! It is so easy to become dehydrated in our Australian summer, especially if also drinking alcohol. Replenish your body with at least 8 glasses of filtered water throughout each day. Have a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink. Add a little lemon or apple cider vinegar for an extra alkalizing and hydrating boost. Or try some coconut water which is packed with electrolytes to improve hydration as well as antimicrobial substances to support immunity.
OVER INDULGED? Start your day with a green smoothie made from apples, broccoli, spinach and green tea and/or coconut water. These lovely greens are great to support your body’s natural cleansing process as well as providing an overloaded liver with essential B vitamins and other nutrients to support well being.
Alternatively, make up a berry smoothie with handfuls of antioxidant and vitamin C rich blueberries (or any berry that takes your fancy, I love a mixture) to fight that inflammation caused by sugary foods and alcohol. Add these to your green smoothie or just blend with coconut water or coconut milk. These make yummy icy poles too.
SOAK AWAY THAT STRESS. Add a cup or more of Epsom salts and a few drops of lavender oil to a warm bath and indulge in a rejuvenating soak. This is a great way to relax and de-stress while eliminating toxins and acids from rich foods and alcohol.
SLEEP, BLISSFUL SLEEP. Our body works hard at healing and recovering while we sleep so give it a fair chance. Have a few early nights and a couple of sleep-ins during this festive season.
