It is easy to look past our normal diets and eat more than usual during the holidays. As a result, it may begin to take a toll on our health.
During these beautiful and warm times with family, it is important to also keep ourselves and our health in mind.
Here are 10 ways to stay healthy during the holidays:
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Probiotics
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Try coconut milk and cream as dairy alternatives
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Minimize alcohol intake
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Daily Yoga
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Hydrate
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Walk after a large meal
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Practice gratitude
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Supplement with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Magnesium
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Rest/Listen to your body
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Generosity without reciprocal expectation
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Probiotics
The holidays mean holiday parties. Holiday parties mean food splurges, alcohol, not enough sleep, and stress. Probiotics can help in each of these aspects.
Probiotics keep your gut healthy which keeps the rest of your body healthy too. The gut is the one-stop shop for a healthy body. Probiotics help with digestion and bloating.
Try Coconut Milk and Cream as Dairy Alternatives
During the holidays there are many foods containing all sorts of dairy products. Unfortunately, dairy for most of us is highly inflammatory and weakens our immunity.
A healthier alternative that offers the same flavors and texture is organic coconut milk and coconut cream. Coconut milk and cream provide the opposite effect with healthy fats, loaded with nutrients your body needs.
Minimize Alcohol Intake
All greasy and fatty foods are easier to pass up than that glass of wine or margarita. However, according to experts, alcohol is not a healthy substance.
The healthiest option is to completely omit alcohol. Considering it is the holiday season, this isn’t ideal. Instead, have alcoholic beverages that don’t contain too much sugar, limit yourself to 1-2 drinks, or give mocktails a try.
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Daily Yoga
Daily yoga can be extremely helpful and healthy for your body, especially during the holiday season. Daily yoga can be a necessary part of recharging your batteries and coping with stress.
Try small-time intervals such as two 20-minute sessions.
Hydrate
It is easy to become dehydrated during the holidays but carrying a water bottle with you can help you stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated helps us maintain a healthy weight and keeps our skin looking smooth and radiant. Water also supports regular bowel function by transporting nutrients.
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Walk After a Large Meal
Make time for physical activity, especially after consuming large meals like Thanksgiving dinner. Being active can strengthen your immune system, decrease stress, and help keep unwanted weight off. Holiday shopping with family and friends can be a good way to walk off those extra calories from that green bean casserole and pumpkin pie while being productive and spending time with loved ones.
“Shatapavali” is an Ayurvedic practice that refers to taking a walk after each meal. Going for a walk after a large meal can help with digestion and bloating.
Practice Gratitude
During this season of thankfulness, it is important to remind yourself of what you are grateful for. Try spending five minutes each morning practicing gratitude.
Practicing gratitude can help set a positive and uplifting tone for your day.
Supplement With Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Magnesium
Your body doesn’t produce vitamin C on its own, which means you need to obtain it through a well-balanced diet or by supplementation. During the holidays it might be trickier to keep a well-balanced diet.
Vitamin C can help regenerate antioxidants in your body, boost immunity, help form collagen, maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth, and helps the body absorb and store iron.
Food sources of vitamin D are limited -- get into the morning sun for 20 minutes to help ensure your body maintains health-supporting levels of vitamin D.
Magnesium helps cope with stress, get more quality sleep, and help with keeping a regular menstrual cycle. It is best to take Magnesium at night before bed.
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Rest/Listen to Your Body
You are susceptible to getting sick if you run yourself down and don’t get enough rest. Sleep helps your body heal and fight infection. Sleep helps boost your immune system to help fight off germs before you become sick.
The ideal amount of sleep varies from person to person. The average amount of hours of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours every night. Listen to your body and let your body determine how much sleep it needs to restore itself.
Generosity Without Reciprocal Expectation
True generosity is about sacrifice. It is about what you do for others out of pure kindness and good intent toward others. It is not something we do with hope or expectation of anything in return.
Health comes in many different forms, whether it may be physical, emotional, mental, social, or spiritual. By helping others and practicing generosity, your emotional and mental health improves. Studies show that helping others activates the mesolimbic pathway. In other words, generosity makes you happier.
Written by Emma Suarez
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This blog provides general information and discussions about wellness and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website.
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