A big part of the holiday season is celebrating with delicious foods and drinks at social events. Often at this time of year the things we consume tend to be less nutritious and easy to overindulge in. These items can be enjoyed on occasion, but when it spans over multiple weeks, can lead to our bodies feeling not so great.
One of the reasons that this can happen is due to these foods and drinks leading to an increase in low grade inflammation. This could show up as sore joints, feeling tired, lethargic or foggy, skin and gut issues, headaches and more. Let’s dive into three key contributors to holiday season inflammation and some tips for reducing their effect.
Sugar
Sugar tends to be a prime culprit around Christmas time to lead us ‘off track’ with our nutrition goals. So how do we enjoy having some sugary treats while still looking after our bodies? The key is moderation and removing the guilty feelings.
Tips:
- Incorporate foods high in fat, protein or fibre when consuming sweet items. This reduces how quickly sugar is released into the bloodstream and slows the release of insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance.
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While foods with labels like ‘fat free’ or ‘reduced fat’ sound healthier, these foods generally have extra sugar added to improve the flavour that is lost when fat is removed. Choosing products that don’t have ‘low fat’ labels are generally a better way to go.
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Summer fruits, dark chocolate and homemade vegan ice cream are some great sweet options!
Alcohol
Alcohol can be a big part of celebrations and social events. However, as well as the sugar and calorie content, when over consumed alcohol adds to the toxic burden on our liver and increases inflammation levels. Just like sugar, the key is moderation. And if you find it hard to maintain a healthy consumption of alcohol around this time of year, it can be helpful to pre-plan alternative drinks that you enjoy.
Tips:
- White spirits like gin, tequila and vodka are more easily metabolised by the liver and don’t have the sugar/calorie content that beer and wine do (although this changes if you are adding high sugar mixers).
- Opt for mocktails with soda water, fruit and juice.
- Alternate between an alcoholic drink and a sparkling water with lemon and fresh ginger or pink grapefruit.
- Make herbal or fruit teas to keep chilled in the fridge for hot days.
Stress
Stress is one of the big contributors to low grade inflammation. Stress tends to increase during the holiday season with extra financial burdens, work busyness and social get-togethers, especially if with challenging people. The stress of these things often leaving us feeling physically and mentally exhausted.
Tips:
- Exercise and movement are a great way to ‘burn off’ stress hormones. Taking a walk in a park or along a beach by yourself or with others is a great way to work off some calories too.
- Breathing exercises often feel like the last thing we want to do when we are already feeling stressed, but they are incredibly helpful! The relaxation part of the vagus nerve is activated by deep breathing and singing among other things.
In addition, below is my blog on stress management which has other excellent tips!
https://drwellness.co.nz/stress-management/
Optimising your diet and lifestyle is key to keeping inflammation down, especially if you already have any illness or aliments. We hope these tips are helpful for you to prioritise your health and energy to enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones!
Sugar tends to be a prime culprit...