We’re all guilty of over indulging every now and again. I know I’m not always perfect when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet- but now the festivities have been and gone, it’s a chance for us all to focus on our goals again and make health a priority. Over indulging every now and again is fine, but there are some things to be aware of. If you’ve had a particularly merry Christmas, here’s what you need to bear in mind moving forward into January and beyond.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol tends to be widely accepted in our society, and at times like Christmas it’s even encouraged. You attend parties where there are cocktails, you have a shot of Baileys in your coffee or hot chocolate and you toast in the new year with a glass of fizz. Done in the right way, alcohol can loosen you up, give you a bit of a buzz and help you to enjoy a social situation even more. However, the issues start when people start going way over their limits. Violent crime, drink driving and other offenses are common when people start bringing out the alcohol. It can make you ill too, all of us have experienced the throbbing head, fatigue and nausea that come with a hangover but it can have other effects too. For example, did you know that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to conditions like oral thrush? If you’ve found yourself drinking all party season and are now getting symptoms of this, purchase some gel for oral thrush from your local chemist. Bear in mind for next time that you’re affecting your body in all kinds of unknown ways, including your organs. Going teetotal through January can be a great way to help your body to recover, and moving forward, be aware of how much you’re drinking.
Food
As with alcohol, we can all go a little mad with tasty food over Christmas. Chances are you’ll have put on at least a little weight, and so a January health kick is no bad thing. While it’s best to moderate your eating to ensure you’re not piling on too many pounds, if you have put some on then work on reducing your weight in a safe and healthy way. Load up on fresh produce, and add lean meat and low fat dairy to your meals. Get in whole grains which are good for your heart as well as digestion. Gaining weight can lead to numerous health problems, particularly if you’re already above the recommended BMI. So work on nourishing your body, eating the right things and getting all of the vitamins and minerals that it needs. Healthy weight loss is one to two pounds a week, so if you’ve gained even as much as half a stone, you can comfortable lose this before the end of January if you’re regimented. Another unexpected issue from indulging in too much sugar over the festive season is that it can affect your teeth. If you haven’t already, schedule yourself a dentist check up to give yourself peace of mind.
Late nights
The importance of getting good sleep is becoming more and more established. Research has recently shown that losing even an hour’s sleep can cause changes in the brain that mimic brain damage. We need sleep for every bodily function, it regulates hormones and improves our mood. When you’re off work over Christmas, it’s tempting to stay up late especially when you’re out at parties and with friends. But when your alarm goes off to go back to work again, you’re going to spend the first few days with a massive sleep debt. This can lead to low mood, poor performance and a high risk of accidents, especially if you drive or operate machinery. A couple of days before you’re due to to back, it’s worth setting your alarm so you’re getting up a little earlier, and then you’ll be able to fall asleep easier at night.
Whether you’ve been sensible this festive season or gone a little overboard, the start of a new year is a great time to set some goals and focus on your health. Try to undo some of the damage, and put yourself on the best path for great health for throughout 2019.
Do you tend to go a little overboard at Christmas? Were you aware of some of the ways it could have hurt your health?
