Thrive during the Holidays!

The Holidays are upon us.  As a Naturopathic doctor,  I sometimes call this the “Season of ill health”. Over consumption of sugar and alcohol, lack of exercise, traveling and airport delays, family dynamics and cold and flu season can mean a disaster for our health.

But what if we could THRIVE during the holidays? What if we were able to come out ahead in January? I personally have never endorsed new years resolutions as I think they set us up for disappointment. The time is now and if we can make some better choices in the moment, our holiday season just got better too.

• Eat before you go to the holiday party. Have something healthy (like a salad or protein smoothie) before you go to the party. You will snack less on chips and cookies and feel better at the end of the evening.

• For every alcoholic beverage, drink two glasses of water. Its important to have something in your hand when your at a holiday function. Try sparkling water with a splash of cranberry juice in a wine class.

• Keep up your exercise routine. Working out is key to feeling good and making empowering choices the rest of the day. If you are traveling, go outside and take a long walk.

• Make your own holiday treats. If you are going to a party or your family tends to only supply unhealthy options, bring your own. For example, dates rolled in coconut with a little cacao nibs makes a sweet and much healthier  treat.

• Make sleep a priority. Lack of sleep is often the thing that sends us over the edge and gets us sick. We also tend to snack more and eat sweets when we are tired. Keep the late night partying at a minimum.

• Don’t judge yourself! We are all going to indulge a little bit during the holiday season. If you over did it, thats okay. Tomorrow is a new day and you will have plenty of opportunities to do something good for yourself the next day.