It’s the holiday season and a good time for your taste buds. But it is exactly the opposite in favor of your waistline. So, everybody would like to enjoy this glorious time without sacrificing their health. But how to do that? Be a smart cookie by following some small steps that can help you stay healthy during the holidays.
1. Eat mindfully
We all eat foods but do you know what is called eating mindfully? It is a practice that not only enhances your taste buds but also indulges your digestive system. It is paying attention to the texture, aroma, and taste of the food. Shift your attention from the body and remember it takes a few minutes for the brain to receive signals from the digestive system whether it is full or not. Another tip is never to attend any party on an empty stomach, otherwise, you will be more prone to overeating.
2. Staying hydrated
60% of our body weight comes from water so water is one of the vital elements of our health and we need to keep it maintained. It is not unusual that during the holidays you consume more cocktails or alcohol. So you must encourage yourself to drink water in between so that your body thanks you the next morning. Drinking plain or infused H2O will work better in these circumstances and help you staying healthy during holidays.
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3. Choose healthy substitute
Holidays allure you with many sumptuous foods. But it is always advisable to keep balance in the diet. Here are some of the tips to maintain a balanced diet. For example, don’t take high-calorie cheese like calorie-dense blue cheese, cream cheese, or reduced-fat cheddar cheese. Instead intake cottage cheese, soft goat cheese, and feta cheese. Similarly use veggie-based salads while avoiding those creamy salad dressings. Load up on roasted veggies instead of ham.
4. Don’t skip the workout
Your calendar may be jam-packed with social activities during the holidays but as your daily food habits are skipped during this time it is better not to skip your daily workout routine. Maybe you do it 30 min daily on normal days, now do it for at least 15 min to keep yourself fit and energetic. Split your physical activities into smaller ones. Also, if you don’t have time to hit the gym, do it in the comfort of your home.
5. Work on your immune system
Holidays are the time when you often spend time partying. Improper sleep weakens our immune system. So, you must be careful enough about sleep. Besides you need to indulge in plenty of vegetables and fresh fruits in your diet to boost your immune system. You may eat a handful of nuts and seeds daily as it is also a great way to fight illness as they contain immune-boosting minerals such as zinc and selenium. Along with this, you must stay hydrated to keep yourself staying healthy during holidays.
6. Don’t forget to self-care
Don’t let holiday madness take a toll on your mental and emotional health. You may be busy cooking or attending guests but give some “me time”. Do some meditation, watch your favorite movie, or simply take a rest to rejuvenate. Shortchanging your sleep schedule can alter your hormonal balance and encourage weight gain and cravings for bad foods. Take atleast seven to nine hours sleep in the night.