Do this to stay healthy during this Christmas season
You’ve kept an eye on your weight and gone to the gym at least three times a week for most of the year. You’ve taken steps to reduce your stress levels, get at least eight hours of sleep each night, wear a facemask, and kept a social distance from others to protect yourself from COVID-19. Why have all those precautions for your health and wellness suddenly been ignored?
It’s inevitable that, over the Christmas break, people will sit back and watch as their healthy lifestyles are destroyed. The good news is that you can quickly move your unhealthy behaviors from Santa’s naughty list to his nice list!
- Watch your diet and eat in moderation
It’s crucial to keep in mind these three golden rules when it comes to celebratory tables laden with delicious foods: Everything in moderation. While a holiday indulgence here and there won’t have a drastic effect on your health, frequently overindulging in unhealthy meals will.
Keep unhealthy fats (saturated and trans fats), sugary snacks, and meals high in sodium to a minimum, and place a greater emphasis on consuming more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Aim for eight glasses of water a day minimum, and moderate your alcohol and caffeine intake.
For many South Africans, the end of the year may be extremely stressful. Recognize when you’re eating to cope with stress even though you’re not genuinely hungry.
Keep your kitchen stocked with wholesome, nutritious foods so you won’t be tempted to snack on chocolates, sweets, and cookies. Eat small meals during the day. This way, when dinnertime rolls around, you’re not as hungry as you would have been.
Do this to stay healthy during this Christmas season
- Try your possible best to exercise daily or at least three times a week during this season
Accountability for weight management and healthy nutrition go hand in hand. Adults should engage in 150 minutes a week, or 30 minutes most days, of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, according to experts. You can go swimming, jogging, or walking.
There are also a ton of bodyweight, yoga, and cardio training videos available online that you can practice at home for free or at a minimal cost. Remember that even little periods of physical exercise have a positive impact on your health, so make an effort to move around throughout the day, even if just for a few minutes.
Do this to stay healthy during this Christmas season
- Get enough sleep
Many people do not obtain the necessary eight hours of sleep per night, despite the fact that sleep is essential for optimal health. Lack of sleep over time can cause major health issues and raise your chance of heart attack, asthma attack, and depression. Try to maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle and to obtain adequate sleep each night (go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every day).
- Keep your stress level down
Did you know that Christmas Eve is one of the times of the year when heart attacks are most likely to occur? Christmas Eve carries a 37 percent increased chance of having a heart attack than any other day, according to Swedish researchers from Lund University.
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You’ve kept an eye on your weight and gone to the gym at least three times a week for most of the
Even though stress is a natural part of life, learning efficient stress management techniques is one of the best things you can do for your health. If you’re unclear about how to go about doing this, see your doctor or healthcare professional, who may give you tips on how to handle stress better.
- Take the COVID-19 Vaccination
You must take precautions to protect your family and yourself against COVID-19 in light of the anticipated fourth wave. Now is the moment to make sure you are fully immunized if you have not yet received your shots or if you have not received them all.
Do this to stay healthy during this Christmas season
There is no way to predict how COVID-19 may affect you; it may cause major, life-threatening consequences. Experts believe that receiving a COVID-19 vaccination also lowers your risk of developing a serious COVID-19 infection if you do contract COVID-19, based on what is known about vaccines for other diseases and preliminary results from clinical studies.
Along with getting vaccinated, keep in mind to continue taking preventative measures like using a facemask, avoiding crowded places, and frequently washing your hands.
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