ABSOLUTE HEALTH
HAVE A HEALTHY CHRISTMAS Our health expert Sheryl Waters gives advice to help you have a happy and healthy festive season
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O HO HO! It’s Christmas time, the most wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately, it can also be the time of year to plump up, get toxic and become exhausted. So how can we have a joyful season while staying healthy physically and emotionally? Use sugar alternatives in your baking Sugar is a toxin that creates incredible imbalances, and is the number one problem. It causes a whole host of illnesses including diabetes. We have so many alternatives these days which make delicious sweetening for our food without the side effects simple. Here are a few possibilities: Date syrup or date sugar (not sugar at all) is made from dates, so it contains all the vitamins, minerals and fibre of the fruit. Xylitol is a widely approved sweetener; even people with diabetes can put this on their healthy food list since it doesn’t create a sugar intolerance for people with diabetes. The best part is that it is actually known to reduce the incidence of tooth decay and offers protection against cavities.
“Coconut oil is a delicious and healthy oil. It`s been shown to protect against or eliminate numerous diseases, including heart disease - a problem it once had an undeserved reputation for creating.” Stevia is a South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. It has a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is caloriefree and doesn’t upset blood sugar levels. In fact, it can actually assist in regulating blood-sugar levels. Hydrate Water and herbal tea will take up space and fill you up, lessening the desire for more food and too many holiday drinks. It is vital that when we are indulging in alcohol that we fully hydrate ourselves, since drinking impacts our kidneys. Drinking one pint of water for each beverage will help you be aware of how many you are knocking back so you can still feel jolly the next day.
Graze, don’t gorge People who eat little and often throughout the day are more likely to lose weight without hunger than people who eat all at one or two sittings. Having healthy snacks, such as fruit or chestnuts (not mince pies), in between meals is a good way to keep from becoming hungry and overeating. This will also keep your blood sugar levels even so you have more energy. Use coconut oil Another easy tip to add health to your holidays is to simply start using coconut oil as your primary cooking oil, and consume coconut oil liberally each day. Coconut oil is a delicious and healthy oil. It`s been shown to protect against or eliminate numerous diseases, including heart disease - a problem it once had an undeserved reputation for creating. Coconut oil is known to reduce threats to our immune system and aid in detoxification - which are two important keys to health. Because let`s face it, if you are going to succumb to eating junk or processed foods on occasions during the holidays, don`t you want to be sure your body can effectively remove the residues? Scent your home with essential oils Use essential oils to add a festive feeling to your home. Evergreen is emotionally grounding, harmonising, and elevating - perfect for the holidays, especially when family gets together. Holiday spices are stimulating and uplifting - and are considered aphrodisiacs, as well. Cinnamon is a holiday favorite that is available in several varieties. Clove bud has a warm sweet scent that works well by itself or combined with other spice or citrus oils for a holiday zing. Frankincense and myrrh are two of the famous gifts offered to the Christ child by the Three Wise Men. They are known to inspire the spirit and enhance meditation. Get some exercise Take a brisk walk when you get a few minutes. This is a great time of year to get bundled up and take a long walk in the countryside, or even to walk around the decorated city and do some shopping. Walking gets our heartbeats up and helps us to detoxify any extra holiday snacking. It also helps us to clear out emotional stress that may be felt this busy time of year.
ABSOLUTE
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