Ulster Cancer Foundation's Handy Tips for a Feelgood Christmas

Christmas can be a time of over-indulgence – after all, we do need to spoil ourselves now and again. But can you have your cake and eat it?

Most of us know that sluggish, overloaded feeling when we’ve partied too hard, had too much to eat and drink or have spent too many hours curled up in front of the TV over the holidays.

 Scarily, the average adult will consume around 6,000 calories on Christmas day alone (the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men). Even by adding an extra 500 calories per day from the start of December, you can pile on 5lbs in weight by the New Year.

 But we can enjoy our festive treats without going overboard – and the Ulster Cancer Foundation is on hand to highlight some handy tips to help you fend off temptation and keep you healthy.

 Remember to:

   Eat a healthy diet. At Christmas there’s lots of tasty, healthy food to choose from. Eat plenty of vegetables (raw or cooked), low fat meats (such as white meat turkey), fruits (such as citrus fruits) and whole grains. If you love mince pies, Christmas cake or pudding, limit your portion size. Eating healthy foods during Christmas will keep your immune system strong to help ward off the cold and flu during your holidays.

 Limit your alcohol intake. If you do drink during the holidays, remember to alternate non-alcoholic drinks with alcoholic ones and don’t drink on an empty stomach. There are delicious non-alcoholic cocktails which make a wonderful alternative. If you do drink at a Christmas party, remember to have a designated sober person drive you home. Also try to keep hydrated over the holidays by drinking adequate water.

  Get plenty of rest. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night during the holiday season. If you feel tired and need to take a nap during the day, try your best to do so. Also, try not to overexert yourself during the holiday season. If you need extra rest, remember that you don't have to go to every holiday event or party you receive an invitation to. Staying well rested during the Christmas season goes a long way towards keeping you healthy.

  Keep active.  The cold weather outdoors accompanied by the great Christmas TV listings makes it easy to overlook exercise during the holidays.  Try to make time for some sort of physical activity.  Take walks with the family or go for a bike ride – or take the toboggan out if the weather turns snowy. Even a trawl of the post-Christmas sales will get you out and about for a few hours and help burn off those extra calories!

  Reduce your Christmas stress. One way to do this is to plan ahead. Don’t leave shopping to the last minute. Get those Christmas cards posted and wrap your Christmas presents now, if you haven’t already. If you can plan ahead and get things done without having to worry about running out of time, you will lower your stress levels and increase your chances of a happy, healthy Christmas. And if you need time out from family - what about that walk!

Last updated 12 years ago