'I'm a GP - this is how to avoid eating and drinking too much at Christmas'
Treating yourself with heaps of festive food and drink is part and parcel with the Christmas festivities.
Whether it's holiday gatherings to cheekily popping a box of chocolates to your shopping trolley, this time of year is full of opportunities to indulge. If you're feeling the urge to slow down, a GP has shared some pointers on how to navigate the season healthfully.
Dr Safia Debar, a GP and stress management expert at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, has laid out a few things to bear in mind. Dr Debar has offered some strategies to help you power through holiday gatherings in good health.
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How to keep eating and drinking in check this Christmas
1. Think it through
"I would sit down and think through the consequences of overdoing it and the actual cost to you," said Dr Debar. "For example, do you know that if you drink too much, the next day you're sluggish, you don't sleep well, you'll get into arguments, you won't be functioning well."
But it's not all doom and gloom - it's important to remember the silver lining of how much better you'll feel, according to the doctor.
"Then, consider the upshot: The pleasure or benefits of that drink may not be what they seem. It's useful to do that exercise and start consciously choosing when you are going to drink and when you are not going to drink."
2. Know thyself
If you are going to drink, stay hydrated with water, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, and be aware of what you're drinking and how it might affect you, according to the GP.
"When you know what your individual reactions to drinks or late nights or overindulgences are, then you can make sure that you rest the next day and put other strategies in place to help your health," Dr Debar adds.
"And try not to overcommit the next day as well; often it's when people have subsequent parties that it's a problem."
3. Prevent cravings
The way to stop cravings is to nip them in bud before they even begin. If you do one thing, avoid sugar.
She said: "If you can start your day right with adequate protein, good fats and avoiding a massive sugar spike, then you're not playing catch-up or at the mercy of sugar spikes. Maximise fruit, vegetables, protein and good fats and then the rest can be treat."
