Festivities are upon us and most people are already planning their Detty December treats. While this is one of the most exciting times of the year when you feel right to break your bank and be merry, it’s essential to keep healthy and find a balance in whatever you do; be it food or drinks. Here are five simple ways to stay healthy even as you enjoy the goodness of the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivals.
Balance up the feast
Bring some balance to the usual heavy festive feast by providing some nutritious addition to the table. Introduce delicious and nutritious fruits such as watermelon, orange, and berries to the table to feel refreshed and healthy.
Minimize alcohol
This might sound unconvincing but replacing alcohol with fruit juice or even water will do you a great good. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing cancer. Cancer Council recommends people drink less alcohol to reduce their risk of cancer, which can be difficult over the festive season. Even better, explore alternative non-alcoholic drinks out on the market or try to schedule alcohol-free days each week, alternate alcoholic drinks with water and make sure you eat some healthy food.
Eat lots of vegetables
You don’t want to miss an efo riro this festive season. Veggies and fruit are essential for health and should form a major part of your diet – especially during the party season. They are a great source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. They also contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that help protect cells against damage and support your immune system. You can eat more vegetables with rice, pounded yam, amala, or even poundo yam.
Slow down, and don’t rush your meal
Did you know that it takes 20 minutes for your brain to send out signals of fullness? Digestion and how our bodies understand we have had enough food starts as soon as you put food in your mouth. The receptors in your mouth respond to the taste and texture of the food and can send signals to the brain telling it that ‘I like it, give me more’, however it’s not until the food reaches the stomach that the gut starts to release hormones that send signals to our brain that we are in fact full. These signals can take up to 20 minutes to reach the brain! Therefore, it’s important to chew your food well and take your time to enjoy your meal or snack and allow your body to tell you when you’ve eaten enough.
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Exercise
Don’t be overwhelmed by the excitement of the season. Take out time to exercise and relax more before work resumes in January, lol. Remember to hit the gym if you already do that regularly, or sign up for one, it will do great good. Also try out simple activities like running, walking, jogging and more.
