Last Updated on November 26, 2023 by Cathy
The year is winding down and all I can say is “What a year this has been.” From the pandemic, lockdowns, financial setbacks, riots, elections, protests, and empty grocery store aisles. It’s been a life-altering year.
For many people this year was very emotional and challenging. The holiday season is normally a stressful time of year. But, this year with everything else going on it’s more stressful. Staying on track with your health is more important than ever.
Staying Healthy Around the Holidays
The holidays should bring joy but when you are on a strict diet it can bring you down. Watching people enjoying themselves eating cookies is only a reminder of what you can’t have.
The first year I changed my diet was one week before Thanksgiving. It was depressing watching everyone eat while I ate a boring salad. Then Christmas rolled around. I avoided going to parties knowing there wouldn’t be anything for me to eat.
Even if you are staying home this year it can still be tough. We’re bombarded with processed foods from movies, television, and commercials. But, who needs those harmful foods when there is plenty of food that is fulfilling and healthy?
Self Care
Instead of putting everyone else first this year make yourself the priority. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet any time of year is hard. It is especially hard to stay healthy around the holidays.
Although, there is no need to feel left out. Make yourself a special treat, an occasional treat is okay to eat. But, you should eat it in moderation because of the higher amounts of carbohydrates. I like to snack on homemade granola because I can keep it in a ziplock bag and bring it with me.
Sample homemade granola:
- Coconut flakes, large
- Dark chocolate chips
- Dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, etc.)
- Nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.)
- Seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.)
Don’t overdo yourself and learn to say no. You are trying to heal your body from the inside out. The world is chaotic right now with all the uncertainty, don’t get caught up in it.
Instead, stay calm and peaceful this season. Stress isn’t good for your health, make a conscious effort to stay relaxed, and enjoy yourself. Take a deep breath and stick with a self-care routine to get your body back in balance.
Staying healthy around the holidays is possible by not focusing on food. Remember, this is a time of celebration with your family and friends.
Food Is Medicine
Eat foods that lower inflammation, especially vegetables. Dr. Terry Wahls, the author of The Wahls Protocol, recommends eating nine cups of vegetables every day. This will give your body the vitamins, minerals, and fiber it needs to heal.
Dr. Wahls recommends 3 cups of vegetables from each group:
- Leafy greens
- Colorful all the way through, plus one cup of fruit
- Sulfur
Eat organic as much as possible to avoid pesticides and GMOs. If you can’t always afford organic buy it if it is on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list. Eat fruits and vegetables that are in season. They’re not only harvested during their peak but they are also cheaper to buy.
Eating food that lives and grows in your environment will help you stay in tune with nature. During the colder months, it is always nice to eat food that’s cooked to warm your body. Plus, eating cooked vegetables helps with digestion keeping the immune system strong.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
People generally think the hot weather is when you need to drink enough fluids. But, the colder months are drying making your body dehydrated. Dehydration can slow down the digestive system leading to other issues. Aim for eight ounces of fluids each day including filtered water and herbal teas. There are many different types of herbal teas that help with many different ailments such as:
- Chamomile – calms your nerves and for healthy digestion
- Dandelion – stimulates the liver and supports healthy digestion
- Ginger – supports healthy digestion
- Peppermint – upset stomach
- Red Clover – cleanse the blood, liver, and kidneys
- Rooibos – packed with antioxidants
- Senna – used as a laxative
- Turmeric – lowers inflammation
Practice Mindfulness
Being mindful means paying attention to what is going on around you. Did that piece of food cause you to burp? Is your stomach upset as you are racing to get out of the house? Did your heart skip a beat when your knee stiffened up?
Mindfulness means noticing what is happening inside your mind and body. It also means what is happening around you. Mindfulness is about observing. Unfortunately, people tend to have more negative thoughts than positive thoughts.
By paying attention to what you are thinking you can change your attitude to a positive one. Studies proved, that people who are more optimistic recover quicker. – Positive thinking works!
Get Quality Sleep
I don’t know about you but I always seem to be more tired during the winter months than in the summer. Probably because the days are colder and shorter and I’m indoors not doing as much. I always look forward to the second day of winter because that means the days are getting longer! Whoo-hoo!
During this time of year with the holidays, it is easy to feel tired and overwhelmed. Keeping a bedtime routine will help your biological clock in tune. Plus, it will keep your immune system healthy. The key to a good night’s sleep winding down before you actually go to bed.
Tips to try before going to bed:
- Avoid watching the news
- Dim the lights
- Listen to calming music
- Lower the sound of the television
- Meditate
- Read a book
- Stay off of any electronics (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.)
- Stop drinking fluids a few hours before bed so you aren’t getting up and heading to the bathroom many times during the night
- Take deep breaths and relax
Keep Moving
One of the best ways to lower inflammation is to exercise. Inflammation comes from eating a poor diet, infections, toxins, and stress. Movement activates our sensory system. That is why people who exercise feel better than people who don’t exercise.
Staying healthy around the holidays is hard because we all get busy. But exercise is important even around the holidays. Instead of a 30-minute routine, do a couple of 10 or 15-minute workouts each day.
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to look forward to watching every step. I was guilty of this myself, after falling several times I watched the ground not turning my head.
So what happens when we stop moving? Not only do our muscles get weaker but we begin to feel “off-balance.” You may feel lightheadedness, dizziness, imbalance, or vertigo. When you turn your head do your eyes move with your head? Or do they stay fixated on one object?
Keeping moving does not only mean walking across the floor. It means to keep your body moving in every direction even if you are sitting in a wheelchair. If you were to search for “exercise to stop dizziness with MS” you would find nothing. But, as you are healing your body try training your brain that it is safe to move.
You May Also Enjoy Reading:
Live An Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle
Anti-Inflammatory Diet For Beginners
How To Eat Healthy During The Holidays
14 Tips To Avoid Holiday Stress When You Have MS
Practice eye exercises to strengthen your eyes:
- Stretch out your arm in front of you
- Hold your thumb upward holding your head still then look to the left and back forward 5 times
- Then look to the right and back forward 5 times
- Repeat with your arm closer to your face
- Facing forward with your head not moving look up and forward 5 times
- Facing forward with your head not moving look down up and forward 5 times
Next, from a sitting position slowly move your head and eyes to the side then slowly back forward. I’m not an expert but it would be training your body and equilibrium that it is safe to move.
I did the eye exercise for almost one year when I had an eye appointment. I told my ophthalmologist I was doing exercises to strengthen my eyes. She told me “That doesn’t work” but I proved her wrong because my vision got better.
I didn’t let her comment bother me because I believed my vision was getting better and it did.
Positive thinking works!
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Staying Healthy Around the Holidays
