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Listening to your body
With the holidays comes over indulgence and poor eating habits. Many people let go during December with the commitment to start fresh on Jan 1. This can often be a dangerous cycle. Rather than choosing that path, let’s work toward a choice of balance during the winter holidays.
Healthy eating
During the holiday season, healthy eating doesn’t have to mean forgoing all of your favorite treats. It does mean making choices though. A few helpful hints to not let your eating habits fall to all the sodium, sugar, and carbs are:
- Drink lots of water. Be sure to consume at least 8 cups of water a day. Be sure to start off your day with water and drink water before meals.
- Don’t graze. Make a small plate with the treats you are choosing to eat. Making a plate helps you to be mindful of what you are consuming.
- Eat vegetables. Start your meal with vegetables to help curb your hunger and fill up on health items.
- We all know that we should eat slowly. It takes time for our stomachs to tell our brains that we are full. If you eat too fast, you will likely overeat and feel very uncomfortable.
- Avoid or limit alcohol. If you choose to have the special drink, be mindful of how much you are drinking as it will affect your blood sugar.
Listen to your body
When you choose to divert from your normal eating plan, you may begin to not feel well. This could be due to bloating or digestive issues as you may not be choosing healthy foods. But the winter months are also full of germs and illness. Pay attention to your body and treat symptoms appropriately to help avoid illness like flu, Covid, or strep during the holidays. You want to treat your symptoms but you also want to avoid spreading illness to your friends and family.
You may also experience cardiac events during the holidays. Studies have shown an increase in cardiovascular deaths around the holidays. If you are experiencing symptoms that could be cardiovascular episodes, seek medical attention. Don’t wait because the timing is inconvenient for your celebrations.
Keep moving
Movement is especially important during the holidays. You may be consuming more calories than normal. You may be having drinks with friends. Keeping your body moving will help your body to regulate some of the treats we are choosing to consume. This movement can include special holiday activities like walking around your neighborhood to see Christmas lights or ice skating with friends and family. Maybe it snows and you can make a snowman with your family. Moving helps you to burn calories but it also helps you to be in a better mental space.
Healthstar Physicians Premier Medical is Newport’s compassionate and experienced healthcare provider. Our team offers osteopathic care as well as podiatry services. We provide preventative care, treat chronic conditions, and acute and urgent care for our patients. We’re accepting new patients, and we accept most forms of health insurance. Contact us to find out more.
