How To Stay Healthy Over Christmas
Learning how to stay healthy over Christmas doesn't have to be a chore.
We know that those sweet treats and succulent meats can be quite tempting. That being said, there are plenty of things you can do to support your health and well-being over Christmas - whether it’s by grabbing a probiotic drink, sharing your sweets, or going easy on your portion sizes.
Don’t let the festive season take over your health this year. Learn how to stay healthy over Christmas with these 7 simple tips below.
Why Do We Overeat On Christmas?
First off, you might be wondering - why do we overeat on Christmas?
It’s no shock that our eating habits take a dramatic shift over the festive season. As the holidays come around and we gather with family, we tend to make large festive platters and sweet desserts to celebrate the occasion.
The good company, festive foods, and eating habits of those around us create the perfect storm for overeating.
Don’t get us wrong, there’s nothing wrong with indulging from time to time! Though there are a few simple things we can do to ensure we stay healthy over the Christmas period.
How To Stay Healthy Over Christmas
Learning how to stay healthy over Christmas doesn’t need to be hard. With these 7 basic tips by your side, looking after yourself over the festive season couldn’t be easier!
Be Mindful Of Portions
One of the best things you can do to stay healthy over Christmas is to be mindful of your portion sizes.
Bigger portions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seem to be a staple for the festive season. That being said, these massive portions aren’t doing any favours to your health and well-being. They’ll leave you feeling sluggish, and tired, and may also cause some weight gain.
There’s no need to go overboard with your portion sizes this year. Instead, be mindful of how much you’re eating during the day.
Stay Active
As we start gathering with our families and friends over the festive season, our exercise routine can often slip to the back of our minds. Though for the sake of our health and well-being, it’s worth finding ways to stay active over Christmas.
Use the holidays as an opportunity to find new ways to get physically active. For example, you could go for a walk to see the Christmas lights, gather the family for backyard cricket, or head to the beach for a swim.
Grab A Probiotic Drink
When it comes to staying healthy over Christmas, you should consider getting your hands on a probiotic drink. These beverages will do wonders for your gut health - helping to balance gut bacteria, support digestion, and improve your general well-being.
When it comes to choosing a probiotic drink, be sure to pick a product with at least one billion CFU (colony-forming units). Your probiotic should also have a micro-shield feature to ensure it survives through the stomach acid and to the intestines.
We’d suggest picking up a probiotic drink from the Perkii range - it ticks all the boxes listed above!
Get Enough Sleep
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep - it can support immunity, encourage a healthy weight, improve mental clarity, reduce stress, and enhance the gut microbiome.
Over the festive season, try to get your regular 8 hours of sleep each night. If you’re waking up early to open Christmas presents, try to go to sleep a little earlier that night to maintain your sleep schedule.
Share Your Treats
Each Christmas, we can expect to find a box of chocolates or two for us hiding under the tree.
Though if you simply can’t tame your sweet tooth, try sharing your sweeter gifts with family and friends. Bring them to your festive gatherings, and enjoy them together.
This will reduce your intake of sugar, and will stop you from binge eating them in front of the TV (don’t worry, we’ve all been there).
Go Easy On The Cocktails
With friends and family coming together for Christmas, many of us will have a cocktail or two to celebrate the occasion. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with this - though try not to go overboard on the drinks.
You’d be surprised by how many calories are hidden in your drinks! Keep a level head, have plenty of water, and try spacing out your drinks instead.
Indulge In Moderation
Christmas is a season of celebration! So, you shouldn’t feel guilty about treating yourself to a large meal or sweet treat from time to time. After all, you deserve it! There’s no need to punish yourself by going cold turkey.
Load up your plate, enjoy some sweet pavlova or dig into that trifle! That being said, try to do this in moderation. Going overboard for every single meal might leave you feeling sore, tired, and sluggish.
The best thing you can do to keep those holiday pounds away is to enjoy the delights of Christmas with a little self-restraint.
Merry Christmas!
