HEALTH + WELLNESS
The 12 Conditions of Christmas CONT .
5 Dry skin and eczema
Endless cleaning up and dusting before welcoming yet another round of guests can leave you with irritated skin and allergic reactions , plus house dust mites love balmy temperatures , so keeping your house toasty can only worsen the inflammation . The best thing to do is turn the heating down , avoid wooly Christmas jumpers ( no matter how fabulous they are ), layer up with soft cotton clothes that won ’ t irritate your skin , and moisturise regularly .
6 Good old festive flab
Chocolate , booze and late-night cheese feasts all add up to extra flab and statistics show that the average person puts on 4lb over the Christmas period alone . There are steps you can take to try and reduce the seasonal tyre that ’ s steadily growing around your middle , however …
Eat every three hours ( easy ); try not to eat carbohydrates after 6pm – a tactic that helps to hinder rollercoaster highs and sugar cravings ( doubtful ); don ’ t skip breakfast ( no problem ); and be sure to add protein to each meal because it slows down the rate that the stomach processes food ( doable ). Otherwise , adopt the ‘ embrace it and worry about it in January ’ attitude , probably not the best health advice , but a lot more satisfying .
7 Seasonal SADness
SAD ( Seasonal Affective Disorder ) is a condition most prevalent during the winter months and is characterised by feelings of depression or low mood often paired up with reduced energy levels , tiredness , increased appetite and a lack of concentration . You can help yourself stay in good spirits naturally though , mainly through diet and exercise . “ Exercise at
Christmas ?” I hear you shout . It ’ s unlikely you ’ ll want to hit the gym , yes , but even a bracing walk or a family cycle can up your levels of serotonin and help you feel cheerier . Good mood foods include turkey , walnuts and salmon though , which shouldn ’ t be too hard to sneak into your diet at this time of year .
8 Bloating
To be honest , if you ’ re trousers aren ’ t feeling a bit tight come Boxing Day , then you ’ re not doing Christmas right ; overindulgence aside however , there is a difference in gaining a few pounds and feeling bloated and uncomfortable . A common cause of bloating is not chewing enough before swallowing , which can cause gas , so a top tip is to chew every mouthful a minimum of 30 times – this stimulates the secretion of digestive juices needed for proper digestion and also ensures that your food is properly mixed with saliva and is swallowed with less gas .
9 Heartburn
If you suffer from heartburn , or acid reflux as many of us know it , then it is what it is – aggravate it and you ’ ll suffer . Christmas is full of temptations that can trigger heartburn , but your best bet is to steer well clear of fruit and fruit juices , fizzy drinks , coffee and chocolate . Have a bit of course , but don ’ t go overboard .
10 Stress
Apparently , 59 % of British women across the UK admit that they suffer from ‘ Stressmas ’ ( Christmasinduced stress ) in the week leading up to the big day . Our advice ? Get everyone to muck in . Kids are more than capable of setting tables and stirring gravy . Otherwise , relieve unnecessary stress through your diet – almonds are great for steadying blood sugar and consequent mood swings – and take a magnesium supplement throughout the whole of November and December ; it ’ s a wonderful tension buster .
11 Cystitis
Alcohol and sugary foods combined with a lowerthan-usual water intake are not only a recipe for a hangover , but also for cystitis and urinary tract infections amongst the fairer sex . The tried and tested preventative here is cranberries , certain substances in which can stop bacteria from sticking to walls that we don ’ t want it to . Avoid processed jellies and super-sweet condiments but eat lots of fresh cranberries ( a great accompaniment to Christmas dinner in homemade sauce form ) washed down with fresh juice and you ’ ll soon feel better .
12 Spots
The heady Christmas combination of stress , sugar , alcohol and lack of sleep can take a toll on even the clearest of complexions leading to unwanted inflammation and spots . Always take your makeup off before bed , so your skin is clean and ready for its natural nighttime repair phase , and – on those nights that you ’ re not entertaining or painting the town red – sleep , sleep and sleep some more . Sleep not only reduces cortisol , the stress hormone , but it also increases melatonin , the sleep hormone , which protects us from free radicals .
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