Why is it that we always seem to get sick during the holiday season, no matter how hard we try to avoid it? People left and right walk with tissues, sniffles, and coughs, but not you … not this year! Read on to find out how to stay healthy during the holidays this year and share these important health tips with your friends and family so that everyone around you can have the best holiday ever!
So, what is it about the holidays that is so hazardous to our health and what do our bodies need in order to fight illness? The period of time between Christmas and New Year’s is actually the most treacherous time when it comes to our health, with hospitals seeing a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues, according to Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of “Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health.”
If you look at how most of us eat starting with Halloween, by the time New Year’s comes around, the immune system has become so weakened that otherwise healthy people are now much more susceptible to illness. “We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate,” says Dr. John Young. He continues, “our bodies can’t use that so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak.”
Does that mean that all sugar be cut out to maintain good health? Not necessarily, you can have your pumpkin pie and eat it too! Find out how to stay healthy during the holidays by reading the following tips below.
__________________________
How To Stay Healthy During The Holidays
- Balance sugar intake with nutrients — if you’re going to have a slice of pumpkin pie, just be sure to feed your cells with the nutrients they need including fresh fruits and vegetables, minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Go here for healthy eating tips during the holidays.
- Get your vitamin D — One of our best sources for vitamin D is sunshine, but for most who work inside all day, they don’t get enough. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient and should be taking supplements. Tip: if you’re feeling like you’re coming down with something, take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime and the next morning you’ll usually feel like a new person.
- Eat your protein – Our immune system is made up of proteins and our bones are 40 percent protein, so we need protein! Take 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
- Get a good night’s sleep — 8 hours is the ideal number.
- Exercise — It increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells. Don’t overdo exercise though, as too much strenuous or excessive exercise can leave you prone to illness.
- Manage your stress — With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system. Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods, it feels good and it’s good for you!
- Stay Hydrated — Keeping your mucous membranes moist is very important to keep bugs out. Dehydration causes the immune system to not work correctly, so be sure to drink plenty of water to help wash any potential cold and flu viruses from your throat to your stomach where they cannot survive.
- Avoid Holiday Treats — Where possible, try to say no to the treat and replace it with a healthy piece of fresh fruit or handful of nuts. Everything adds up!
- Use Hand Sanitizer — There are so many germs lurking around in public places, so cover your bases, and make sure your hands stay germ free with a travel bottle of hand sanitizer.
- Healthy Lifestyle — The best way to avoid getting sick during the holidays is to maintain a healthy diet with exercise and plenty of sleep. A healthy diet fuels the immune system, so eat meals with protein-packed foods like lean meat, fish, or beans, and plenty of antioxidant-rich vegetables. Lastly, get a good night’s sleep, drink plenty of water, and continue to exercise lightly.
Leave a Reply