The holidays are a wonderful time. But after a period of many dinners, glasses of wine, and extra desserts, you might feel bloated, tired, and sluggish. Time to recover then! And healthy eating after the holidays will be a piece of cake with these tips.
1. Call upon your self-control
Realize that after consuming a lot of sugars and processed foods, your body craves more. This has to do with the reward system in your brain, and this makes it extra challenging to leave the leftover Christmas cookies alone.
As soon as sugar touches our tongue, signals are sent to the brain. There, in addition to the taste center, the reward system is also activated. After all, in prehistoric times, sugars were a rare commodity, and our brains have not yet evolved enough to realize that sugars are now more of a threat than a reward. Our brain therefore produces the reward hormone dopamine, which makes you happy and euphoric. This is a pleasant reaction, so it's logical that you then crave more sugars and that pleasant feeling again! But this leads you into a vicious circle that somewhat resembles an addiction...
You are now aware of the fact that your brain and hormones simply work this way, but keep your goal and good health in mind and call upon your self-control. The most important thing is to consciously try to change your habits. Your brain prefers to be lazy rather than tired and chooses the easiest path. If you make healthy eating a habit, your brain will automatically revert to it. This takes time and energy, but it is well worth it!
2. Stabilize your blood sugar level.
Sugars cause a peak in your blood sugar level, only to let it drop again shortly after. It is therefore good to stabilize your blood sugar level. Eating enough protein, healthy fats, varied vegetables, and plenty of fiber helps with this!
As additional support for your blood sugar level, we have developed the Blood Sugar Support supplement. This supplement contains chromium, which contributes to maintaining a healthy blood sugar level.
3. Plan your meals.
The days between Christmas and New Year's often tend to be a bit chaotic, and there's no strict schedule. It can be extra helpful to plan your meals and, if possible, prepare them in advance. Breakfasts like oatmeal and chia pudding can be made ahead of time, as can an omelet with leftover veggies from your Christmas gourmet meal!
4. Drink enough water.
Not only is healthy eating important after the holidays, but so is healthy drinking. Whether you've consumed a lot or a little alcohol in recent days, drink extra water and herbal tea in the coming days. Good hydration is always important, but now that you might want to excrete some extra toxins, it's extra crucial!
Extra tip: start the day with a glass of lukewarm water with lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar) squeezed into it. This stimulates the production of stomach acid, which improves digestion. Preferably drink this with a straw to protect your tooth enamel.
5. Exercise, preferably on an empty stomach and outdoors!
Exercise is always beneficial and important, but after days of heavy eating and little movement, it is even more essential. You can better burn the sugars from the Christmas stollen than store them in your body, and by putting your muscles to work, you help your body! When you exercise on an empty stomach, your body first uses the reserves from the previous evening for energy!
6. Support your energy metabolism with supplements
Do you feel weak, listless, and tired? Then support your energy metabolism with the right nutrients. You can consider the following supplements:
- Iron Bisglycinate supports energy levels
- Magnesium contributes to extra energy in case of fatigue
- Vitamin B12 helps release energy from food
- Vitamin C helps reduce tiredness and fatigue
