20 tricks to Xmas-Proof your body
CHRISTMAS isn't just tough on your pocket, it can be tough on your body, too.
This week, one in three of us will get a hangover, five million will suffer from indigestion and up to one in five will catch a chesty cough or bronchitis.
It's the combination of excess alcohol, fatty food and sugary treats that take their toll.
So here are 20 ways to health-proof your body and sail through the silly season...
1 FEELIN' BLUE
WHEN the Quality Street chocs come out, choose the milk chocolate hazelnut (the blue one). It's the healthiest of the lot because hazelnuts supply anti-ageing vitamin E.
2 SHAKEN & SPARED
SHAKING hands at parties may well give you a cold. The virus is passed from one person's nasal drips to either your nasal lining or your eyes. So when introductions are over, dash to the loo, wash your hands and in the meantime, resist touching your eyes or nose.
3 CRANBERRY JUICE
SPICY party foods and alcohol are bad news if you're prone to cystitis. This is because they irritate the bladder. So drink cranberry juice - condensed tannins block the bacteria. Vodka and cranberry is a better mix than trad V&T.
4 MILK IT
YES, drinking a glass of milk before boozing really can save you from the mother of all hangovers. It keeps the stomach busy digesting for longer, so alcohol isn't absorbed as quickly as it otherwise would be.
5 ENERGY BOOST
DRINKING sports drinks to replace sugar and salts lost when we're dehydrated will help get rid ofthat wobbly, morning-after feeling. Eating before you go out also reduces hangover symptoms.
6 NO NIBBLING
POST-party munchies, such as a kebab or curry, may well bring on indigestion. So avoid eating after 10pm. And use an extra pillow to reduce night-time indigestion. By propping your head up, you will reduce the flow of acids upwards from the stomach.
7 GO BANANAS
IF you haven't time to eat before you go out, at least grab a banana. This will boost blood sugar and provide energy. It will also reduce alcohol absorption and give a potassium boost to lower blood pressure.
8 B PREPARED
GETTING organised for Christmas can be a nightmare. And when we're stressed, we use up more B vitamins - which can lead to cracking at the corners of the mouth. Keep your mouth mistletoe-fresh by eating B2-rich brown rice, fortified breakfast cereal and green leafy veg.
9 ALOE, ALOE
ALOE Vera has been used to treat indigestion for 3,000 years, so try gulping some down before a big meal. Another benefit is the juice's immune boosting properties. It can stimulate the body's macrophages - large cells that are part of the defence system. Try Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Juice.
10 ATTACK A MACK
DASHING about, alcohol and late nights will take their toll on your skin. So eat oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon, which are rich in skin-boosting essential fatty acids as well as selenium, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent wrinkle-forming free radicals.
11 FIT VIT
IF sausage-rolls, chicken wings and crisps make up a significant part of your diet at the moment, take a vitamin and mineral supplement. Holland & Barrett Timed Release Super One (£8.69 for 50) came out top in our tests.
12 HERE'S THE SNOOZE
A WEEKEND nap will stop you getting too run down. The best time to nap is between 2-5pm and 10-40 minutes is the perfect sleep time - it relaxes body and mind for just long enough.
13 STICK TO PINEAPPLE
WHEN the nibbles are handed round, go for the pineapple on sticks. This fruit contains digestive enzymes which reduce bloating, indigestion and wind. Papaya and kiwi fruit also contain these useful enzymes.
14 POME-GREAT
FOR a Christmas cocktail, opt for anything containing pomegranate juice. This is the latest trendy drink as it has magical health boosting properties - it can dissolve arterial plaque build-up that triggers heart disease.
15 DAY OFF
IF you've been going OTT on the celebrations, give yourself a break. Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins and get a good night's sleep. Natural energy boosters such as nuts, dried apricots, raisins and Californian prunes are a rich source of protective antioxidants. And with your batteries recharged, Christmas Day will be far less painful.
16 FAG BREAK
NOBODY pretends smoking, or being in a a smoky atmosphere, is a good thing. Each cigarette uses 25mg of vitamin C, so 10 a day equals 250mg - as much as you get from three or four oranges. Drink a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (squeezed yourself) or take a vitamin C tablet.
17 LUNCH HUNCH
THE traditional festive lunch isn't as unhealthy as you'd expect. Turkey, especially the white meat, is very low in fat, sprouts are high in B and C vitamins, and carrots are a great source of the anti- oxidant beta-carotene. Avoid too much saturated fat by roasting potatoes in olive oil rather than lard and have your pud with custard. If you want second helpings, choose veggies - a portion of carrots has only 20 calories.
18 LEAVE THE LIQUEURS
LIQUEURS and designer drinks are dangerous for slimmers - a 25ml pub measure of Bailey's contains 155 calories, so the tipple you pour out at home could contain 300. Instead try Tia Maria (75cals) with iced coffee, topped with a spoonful of low-fat fromage frais and grated nutmeg.
19 PARCEL FORCE
WHEN doing the last-minute shopping, carry the presents for as long as you can... because you'll burn 330 calories an hour that way. And at the office party, don't hang out by the bar - get on the dance floor where you'll burn off 300 calories an hour.
20 BEAT THE BAGS
ALCOHOL makes the blood vessels dilate, giving you bloodshot eyes. Smoky atmospheres make it worse. To get rid of bags or dark circles, put slices of cucumber on your eyes and relax for 10 minutes. It is a natural astringent with high mineral and water content that will nourish and tighten the skin around eyes.
This week, one in three of us will get a hangover, five million will suffer from indigestion and up to one in five will catch a chesty cough or bronchitis.
It's the combination of excess alcohol, fatty food and sugary treats that take their toll.
So here are 20 ways to health-proof your body and sail through the silly season...
1 FEELIN' BLUE
WHEN the Quality Street chocs come out, choose the milk chocolate hazelnut (the blue one). It's the healthiest of the lot because hazelnuts supply anti-ageing vitamin E.
2 SHAKEN & SPARED
SHAKING hands at parties may well give you a cold. The virus is passed from one person's nasal drips to either your nasal lining or your eyes. So when introductions are over, dash to the loo, wash your hands and in the meantime, resist touching your eyes or nose.
3 CRANBERRY JUICE
SPICY party foods and alcohol are bad news if you're prone to cystitis. This is because they irritate the bladder. So drink cranberry juice - condensed tannins block the bacteria. Vodka and cranberry is a better mix than trad V&T.
4 MILK IT
YES, drinking a glass of milk before boozing really can save you from the mother of all hangovers. It keeps the stomach busy digesting for longer, so alcohol isn't absorbed as quickly as it otherwise would be.
5 ENERGY BOOST
DRINKING sports drinks to replace sugar and salts lost when we're dehydrated will help get rid ofthat wobbly, morning-after feeling. Eating before you go out also reduces hangover symptoms.
6 NO NIBBLING
POST-party munchies, such as a kebab or curry, may well bring on indigestion. So avoid eating after 10pm. And use an extra pillow to reduce night-time indigestion. By propping your head up, you will reduce the flow of acids upwards from the stomach.
7 GO BANANAS
IF you haven't time to eat before you go out, at least grab a banana. This will boost blood sugar and provide energy. It will also reduce alcohol absorption and give a potassium boost to lower blood pressure.
8 B PREPARED
GETTING organised for Christmas can be a nightmare. And when we're stressed, we use up more B vitamins - which can lead to cracking at the corners of the mouth. Keep your mouth mistletoe-fresh by eating B2-rich brown rice, fortified breakfast cereal and green leafy veg.
9 ALOE, ALOE
ALOE Vera has been used to treat indigestion for 3,000 years, so try gulping some down before a big meal. Another benefit is the juice's immune boosting properties. It can stimulate the body's macrophages - large cells that are part of the defence system. Try Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Juice.
10 ATTACK A MACK
DASHING about, alcohol and late nights will take their toll on your skin. So eat oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon, which are rich in skin-boosting essential fatty acids as well as selenium, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent wrinkle-forming free radicals.
11 FIT VIT
IF sausage-rolls, chicken wings and crisps make up a significant part of your diet at the moment, take a vitamin and mineral supplement. Holland & Barrett Timed Release Super One (£8.69 for 50) came out top in our tests.
12 HERE'S THE SNOOZE
A WEEKEND nap will stop you getting too run down. The best time to nap is between 2-5pm and 10-40 minutes is the perfect sleep time - it relaxes body and mind for just long enough.
13 STICK TO PINEAPPLE
WHEN the nibbles are handed round, go for the pineapple on sticks. This fruit contains digestive enzymes which reduce bloating, indigestion and wind. Papaya and kiwi fruit also contain these useful enzymes.
14 POME-GREAT
FOR a Christmas cocktail, opt for anything containing pomegranate juice. This is the latest trendy drink as it has magical health boosting properties - it can dissolve arterial plaque build-up that triggers heart disease.
15 DAY OFF
IF you've been going OTT on the celebrations, give yourself a break. Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins and get a good night's sleep. Natural energy boosters such as nuts, dried apricots, raisins and Californian prunes are a rich source of protective antioxidants. And with your batteries recharged, Christmas Day will be far less painful.
16 FAG BREAK
NOBODY pretends smoking, or being in a a smoky atmosphere, is a good thing. Each cigarette uses 25mg of vitamin C, so 10 a day equals 250mg - as much as you get from three or four oranges. Drink a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (squeezed yourself) or take a vitamin C tablet.
17 LUNCH HUNCH
THE traditional festive lunch isn't as unhealthy as you'd expect. Turkey, especially the white meat, is very low in fat, sprouts are high in B and C vitamins, and carrots are a great source of the anti- oxidant beta-carotene. Avoid too much saturated fat by roasting potatoes in olive oil rather than lard and have your pud with custard. If you want second helpings, choose veggies - a portion of carrots has only 20 calories.
18 LEAVE THE LIQUEURS
LIQUEURS and designer drinks are dangerous for slimmers - a 25ml pub measure of Bailey's contains 155 calories, so the tipple you pour out at home could contain 300. Instead try Tia Maria (75cals) with iced coffee, topped with a spoonful of low-fat fromage frais and grated nutmeg.
19 PARCEL FORCE
WHEN doing the last-minute shopping, carry the presents for as long as you can... because you'll burn 330 calories an hour that way. And at the office party, don't hang out by the bar - get on the dance floor where you'll burn off 300 calories an hour.
20 BEAT THE BAGS
ALCOHOL makes the blood vessels dilate, giving you bloodshot eyes. Smoky atmospheres make it worse. To get rid of bags or dark circles, put slices of cucumber on your eyes and relax for 10 minutes. It is a natural astringent with high mineral and water content that will nourish and tighten the skin around eyes.
posted by Dirty Dan at 6:15 AM
1 Comments:
this was great stuff.
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