Surviving Christmas

5 Tips to stay healthy over the holiday season

Come January, everyone will be lamenting all the chocolate, , mince pies and fruitcakes they ate over Christmas. So here is your survival plan.

1. Start your day with a healthy breakfast. Some breakfast   suggestions: Poached or boiled eggs with chopped up tomatoes and avocado, a drizzle of olive oil, black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. A smoothie made from plain yoghurt with frozen berries and a tablespoon of linseed or flaxseed oil. Plain greek yoghurt with mixed nuts.

2.    Half an hour before you have your morning or afternoon teas or meals, make sure you have a glass of water. Not into water? Why not consider using chilled herbal tea with a couple of thinly sliced orange to “dress it up” a bit; adding 3 tablespoonful of natural fruit juice into soda water or simply squeezing some lemon or lime into it. Water is a solvent needed by your body to get rid of toxins, so it helps you detoxify. Studies have also suggested that by drinking half an hour to an hour before food, you tend to eat less.

3.    Stay active and keep moving. Suggestions: take evening strolls; if you are going to the shops, park the car a bit further than you usually would; use a shopping basket rather than a trolley if you are only buying a few items; instead of using your remote; walk to the TV to change channels; get a couple of light dumbbells (or books) and start doing arm raises if you are not mobile.

4.    If appropriate, take some Chromium. Chromium is a powerful trace mineral that helps increase insulin sensitivity, allowing for better transport of blood glucose into cells.

5.    To help boost your energy and cope with stress, consider the following: Vitamin B, C, Magnesium and Zinc. If you don’t have high blood pressure, try some liquorice tea.