Even for those of us with the noblest intentions and the steeliest of willpower, Christmas can be a temptation just too great.
We know we should consume moderate portions, pass on seconds, stand away from the buffet table, and stop eating when we feel satisfied, but inevitably we overindulge and feel, well, stuffed! If you’re feeling sluggish after an evening, a weekend, or even a fortnight of festive feasting and drinking, follow these tips to help get yourself back on track…
1. Banish the guilt
Firstly and most importantly, don’t beat yourself up too much if you fall into the temptation of splurging. Remember that it’s what you eat on a regular basis that affects your long term health, not that extra helping of Christmas pudding on the 25th December. A few days of overindulgence over Christmas is not a health problem, and should be enjoyed without regret.
2. Don’t skip meals
Don’t be tempted to try to make up for the extra calories by skipping meals the next day. This will just leave you feeling hungry and miserable, and likely to indulge again. Instead eat smaller, lighter meals packed with fruit and vegetables and some lean protein such as fish, chicken, beans or tofu.
3. Don’t get on the scales
After a few days of Christmas eating you are likely to weigh a bit more. This isn’t because you’ve gained body fat, but because you’ve retained water due to the extra salt you’ve consumed. Stay away from the scales, and instead focus your energy and attention on the steps you’re taking to get your healthy eating back on track.
4. Love your liver
The liver is responsible for detoxifying alcohol, metabolising fats, and cleansing the body of toxins, and over the Christmas period it may have to work a little harder than usual! Supporting the function of the liver can be a very powerful way to give the body a post-festive cleanse, and you can do this by packing your diet with liver-supportive foods. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale and cabbage), lemon, beetroot, eggs and turmeric all contain compounds that aid liver function.
5. Drink lots of water
In the midst of all the festive eating and drinking, staying well hydrated is something that can often be neglected. The consequences of this are widespread, with dehydration manifesting in many forms including low mood, poor energy levels and a sluggish digestive system.
Water is also important for ridding the body of toxins, and supporting the liver in processing all the Christmas excess. To rehydrate properly, don’t be tempted just to knock back a large pint of water and then forget about it. Instead, sip water regularly over the course of the day.
6. Rebalance your gut
An excess of sugar and alcohol over the festive season can be bad news for even the most robust of digestive systems. By providing a food source for the ‘bad’ bacteria, over consumption can lead to an imbalance in the gut bacteria that can result in bloating and troublesome tums.
Taking a high strength, multi-strain probiotic supplement can help to readdress this balance, and there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that probiotics can provide many benefits for our digestive systems.
You can also improve the amount of ‘friendly’ bacteria in your gut through diet by increasing your intake of prebiotic foods such as onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, leeks and bananas.
