insideKENT Magazine Issue 57 - December 2016 | Page 124

HEALTH+WELLNESS The 12 conditions of Christmas cont. 5 Spots 6 The heady Christmas combination of stress, sugar, alcohol and lack of sleep can take a toll on even the clearest of complexions leading to unwanted inflammation and spots. Always take your makeup off before bed, so your skin is clean and ready for its natural night-time repair phase, and – on those nights that you’re not entertaining or painting the town red – sleep, sleep and sleep some more. Sleep not only reduces cortisol, the ’stress’ hormone, but it also increases melatonin, the ’sleep’ hormone, which protects us from free radicals. 7 SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a condition most prevalent during the winter months and is characterised by feelings of depression or low mood often paired up with reduced energy levels, tiredness, increased appetite and a lack of concentration. You can help yourself stay in good spirits naturally though, mainly through diet and exercise. "Exercise at Christmas?" I hear you shout. It’s unlikely you’ll want to hit the gym, yes, but even a bracing walk or a family cycle can up your levels of serotonin and help you feel cheerier. Good mood foods include turkey, walnuts and salmon though, which shouldn’t be too hard to sneak into your diet at this time of year. Bloating 8 To be honest, if you’re trousers aren’t feeling a bit tight come Boxing Day, then you’re not doing Christmas right; overindulgence aside however, there is a difference in gaining a few pounds and feeling bloated and uncomfortable. A common cause of bloating is not chewing enough before swallowing, which can cause gas, so a top tip is to chew every mouthful a minimum of 30 times – this stimulates the secretion of digestive juices needed for proper digestion and also ensures that your food is properly mixed with saliva and is swallowed with less gas. 9 Good old festive flab Chocolate, booze and late-night cheese feasts all add up to extra flab and statistics show that the average person puts on 4lb over Christmas. There are steps you can take to try and reduce the seasonal tyre that’s steadily growing around your middle, however… Eat every three hours (easy); try not to eat carbohydrates after 6pm – a tactic that helps to hinder rollercoaster highs and sugar cravings (doubtful); don’t skip breakfast (no problem); and be sure to add protein to each meal because it slows down the rate that the stomach processes food (doable). Otherwise, adopt the ‘embrace it and worry about it in January’ outlook; probably not the best health advice, but a lot more satisfying. Stress Apparently, 59 per cent of British women across the UK admit that they suffer from ‘Stressmas’ (Christmas-induced stress) in the week leading up to the big day. Our advice? Get everyone to muck in. Kids are more than capable of setting tables and stirring gravy. Otherwise, relieve unnecessary stress through your diet – almonds are great for steadying blood sugar and consequent mood swings – and take a magnesium supplement throughout the whole of December; it’s a wonderful tension buster. 11 Seasonal SADness 10 Dry skin and eczeme Endless Christmas cleaning up and dusting can leave you with irritated skin and allergic reactions, plus house dust mites love balmy temperatures, so keeping your house toasty can only worsen the inflammation. The best thing to do is turn the heating down, avoid wooly Christmas jumpers (no matter how fabulous they are), layer up with soft cotton clothes that won’t irritate your skin, and moisturise regularly. Cystitis Alcohol and sugary foods combined with a lower-than-usual water intake are not only a recipe for a hangover, but also for cystitis and urinary tract infections amongst the fairer sex. The tried and tested preventative here is cranberries, certain substances in which can stop bacteria from sticking to walls that we don’t want it to. Avoid processed jellies and super-sweet sauces, but eat lots of fresh cranberries (a great accompaniment to Christmas dinner – see p78 for a brilliant recipe) washed down with fresh juice and you’ll soon feel better. 12 Heartburn If you suffer from heartburn, or acid reflux as many of us know it, then that’s just it: aggravate it and you’ll suffer. Christmas is full of temptations that can trigger heartburn, but your best bet is to steer well clear of fruit and fruit juices, fizzy drinks, coffee and chocolate. Have a bit, of course, but don’t go overboard. 124