December has arrived, and with it the time to meet again and celebrate with family and friends. Moments in which food and drink will be the protagonists, and that will be characterized by long after-meals with sugary drinks, cocktails and Christmas sweets.
It is true that, although in the end we end up tired of so much celebration, no one wants to miss any of those meetings with family and friends, much less, put ourselves in control of what we eat or drink. The good news is that there are tricks to counteract these excesses so that we do not spend too much time during the holidays.
Eat more fruits, vegetables and fermented foods
Holidays – or feasts – are what make the body work harder. So give it a ‘break’ on the days when there is NO party. n in your pantry foods such as vegetables and fruits , which due to their high fiber content will help you recover your intestinal regularity . In addition, you can take advantage of the properties of fruits such as papaya and pineapple, which have enzymes that facilitate the digestion of heavy meals, as well as citrus fruits that favor the digestion of fats.
Other foods that you can eat more on these dates are fermented such as yogurt, kefir, miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha; that have live microorganisms that help to restore the microbiota of the intestine , an organ considered our second brain due to the influence it has on our health.
Plan to avoid surprises
Planning is important in life, especially in this time of surprises and improvisations. So that techniques such as ‘meal prep’ (food preparation) and ‘batch cooking’ (batch cooking) will be your great allies to compensate for the Christmas excesses.
Do not be scared by the names, they are the techniques of a lifetime with ‘fancy’ names to make them fashionable , and that help plan meals days in advance. Thus, you put aside the rush and avoid resorting to fast foods based on ultra-processed products full of sugars, additives and preservatives that are so harmful to health. Although both techniques are similar, their main difference is in that:
In the ‘meal prep’ you already save the menu prepared in your tupper like chicken with quinoa and roasted vegetables, so you would only have to take it and heat it at the time of eat; whereas e in batch cooking you store only one type of food in the tupper . An example of batch cooking is sautéed beans; a tupper with meat, and another with conso mé of vegetables.
No matter which technique is best for you, set aside a few hours a day to make your week easier , and thus advance the preparation of the food you you can keep in the fridge or freezer (such as broths, vegetables, purees, creams, eggs, chicken, meat …) for several days. Ideally, you should cook the necessary volume to put together the weekly menu, and take the opportunity to prepare several meals at the same time.
Satiety and hydration
Include in your meals and snacks foods high in fat such as nuts, avocado, olive oil and margarine. T e will help you feel full faster and longer . This is a great trick to control excessive snacking and help you manage anxiety.
Not everything is food! Water also plays a fundamental role in maintaining health. Remember that more than half of the body is made up of this precious liquid, so a slight lack of water can disrupt many functions. In fact, when the body is 1% dehydrated it already begins to send signals to the nervous system to stimulate hydration. Learn to listen to your body, and give it water when it asks.
Don’t give up physical activity
And at this time less, then to keep the balance balanced as best as possible the ideal is to move more to compensate for the excesses that we could have The party days. Of course, do not see physical activity as a way to burn calories – you know I do not believe in that – but as a way to restore your health . It will help you improve your mood, reduce the risk of disease onset, reduce fatigue and many more benefits that will help you get to January like nothing. Christmas is a time to celebrate and enjoy without worries. That is why I want you to take advantage of these days in the best possible way without neglecting your health, and so that you can return to the routine in January with success.
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