Happy Holidays. Drink up!

The holiday season is upon us. A time for laughter, joy, gatherings with loved ones, and lets not forget, over-indulgence! And why not right? You’ve worked hard all year, working out at the gym, eating healthy, meditating everyday. Okay, some of us may not have been that good, but we have worked hard none the less.

The holidays is the time we usually throw all of our rules out the window and wear an ‘anything goes’ type attitude. And I get it, I do, because I too do the same. But I do keep one rule that usually saves me from an increasing waistline, hangovers or simply just feeling like poo after all the fun is done. That rule: WATER.

Whether it’s reaching for thirds of your favorite holiday treat or putting back a few too many at a party, water will help you reduce the negative effects these actions will have on the body.  Sounds too simple I know, but its true.

Stress, consumption of alcohol, caffeine and too much sugar (all factors during the holiday season) all cause dehydrating effects on the body. When the body is dehydrated, headaches, water retention, diarrhea are all common occurrences. The serious effects that stress has on the body are well known. Dehydration is a result to stress and stress is a result to dehydration – it’s a vicious cycle. Stress, especially during the holiday season, is very hard to avoid. So what’s the answer? Keep yourself well hydrated!

Here are a few tips that will keep you from loosening the belt or reaching for the Tylenol after a late night:

1.     Before you sit down to the plethora of your holiday favorites, drink a full 8 oz glass of cold water. This glass of water will give you the sensation of feeling fuller faster, preventing you from reaching for thirds.

2.     When indulging in your favorite sweets accompanied by a large cup of Joe, remember to drink water before, during and following to keep these water-robbing thieves at bay.

3.     For every glass of wine, beer or spiked egg nog, drink an 8 oz glass of water. This will not only prevent you from over-consuming on the nog, it will keep that hangover headache at bay and have you snuggling up to your sweetheart instead of the toilet bowl at 3 am.

4.     If flying back home, make sure to carry a bottle of H2O with you on the flight (after you pass security of course;). Air travel is a huge culprit when it comes to dehydration.

5.     Make sure to drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Although you may not feel thirsty, is doesn’t mean you’re not. While busy consuming all this water, this means less time to pig out on sweets and wine.

Cheers!!

 

As a nutritionist, telling someone not to over indulge over the holidays would be unrealistic. Instead, finding a solution that helps you control those tasty temptations while reducing the ill-effects this holiday season has on our bodies is much more likely to work.

So as we laugh, love and eat this holiday season, I raise a glass to you. A glass of water that is.