If you want to party smart this holiday season, you need a plan. There are so many natural health-promoting strategies you can adopt right now to help you feel good (1) during this entire month of holiday celebrations.
From office parties to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and New Year’s Eve bashes, planning ahead can help you prevent the arrival of some unwanted “prezzies” 🎁, like viruses, hangovers, and misunderstandings.
Listed below are some of my top tips to empower you to be your best during the holidays!
PARTY SMART TIP #1: Keep your blood sugar balanced so you feel and act “good” 😇
Don’t skip meals, especially lunch during the holidays. Blood sugar crashes (hypoglycemia) leads to that hangry feeling and set the stage for food cravings. Strive to eat 2-3 balanced meals each day.
Focus on high fiber foods, which release their energy over several hours instead of minutes. Eat at least 5-7 servings of colorful veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds, gluten-free grains, and beans, which keep you full longer and burn more calories while being digested than simple carbs.
Power up the protein and quality oils; both protein and fat slow absorption of simple sugars and alcohol and provide key amino acids and fatty acids to optimize metabolism.
Bring a healthy food gift to that upcoming holiday party. My Tuscan Cannellini Dip recipe, checks all the boxes: high fiber, protein, delicious, and so pretty on a holiday table with crudites.
If you suspect there will be no "healthy" options there, then eat before you go.
PARTY SMART TIP #2: You’re at a party with a table full of food. What’s your strategy?
Grab a glass of water as soon as you get to the party and survey the food and drink.
Serve yourself "elf portions" (2) when filling your plate. You can always go back for more.
Eat slowly, and chew your food well: Remember, it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it’s had enough. So, no wolfing food: it’s tough on digestion and it's no fun being at a party with a stomachache. Besides, it's totally unattractive to shovel food while carrying on a conversation!
After you've filled your plate, move away from the table. It’s way too easy to continue to snack you're when lingering around the food.
And now, a few words about alcohol… 🍸 🍸
Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Booze on an empty stomach (3) goes right to your head, causes your blood sugar to spike and then crash, overwhelms your liver’s ability to metabolize it, and decreases your will power and common sense. Enough said.
Count and space each drink. The body can only metabolize about 1 drink per hour. More than that and the liver can’t keep up, making it more likely to suffer some degree of toxicity the next day. Sip a glass of water between each drink to spread them out.
Travel with a designated driver who limits his or her alcohol intake or avoids it altogether. Or decide to be the DD, so you don’t overdo it!
PARTY SMART TIP #3: Support Your Foundation
Rack up 8 hours of sleep: Take advantage of these long winter nights and give yourself the gift of rest. This does more to reset energy, mood, and kindness than almost anything else.
Move your body: Exercise enhances self-image and makes you feel good through the release of endorphins. It also helps reduce cravings for alcohol and drugs. Get out in nature for a mid-day hike these holidays or give yourself the gift of a gym membership, yoga class or find a walking buddy and develop a new, good habit.
PARTY SMART TIP #4: Support your liver with the right nutrients. Let’s face it: none of us are “nutrition saints” during the holidays. If you’ve overdone it with too much food and drink, here are the top 3 nutritional supplements that I recommend to support metabolism and detoxification:
N-Acetyl Cysteine: NAC is one of three amino acids the body needs to make Glutathione, our body’s powerful antioxidant enzyme system. Supplementation with NAC helps decrease oxidative damage to the liver, reduces liver enzymes, and slows the development of fatty liver. NAC has been shown to reduce viral pathogens and help clear excessive mucous during upper respiratory infections.
Curcumin Phytosome (Meriva): Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound present in turmeric, the bright orange root used in curries. Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and helps protect the liver from oxidative damage, lower liver enzymes and boost glutathione production. Thorne's Curcumin Phytosome, as Meriva, is a well-studied curcumin extract with significantly better absorption than other curcumin extracts.
Liver Cleanse: I love this combination of key nutrients, like the antioxidant alpha lipoic acid, along with botanicals, like berberine (4), milk thistle and artichoke, and amino acids like methionine and taurine that support liver detoxification.
To party smart, you also need to practice compassion and forgive yourself if you haven’t lived up to your ideals and goals. Start again and consider a joining me for a reset by practicing Dry January. It’s a great practice to discipline yourself for a few weeks each year to keep your body, mind, and spirit clear.
Finally, forget about losing weight during the holidays. Make it your goal to maintain your present weight the rest of this month. If you focus on these tips now, it will make weight loss much easier in January!
Make certain that you are following Dr. Sally’s Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I’m planning something amazing to help you get back on track with your health and wellness goals.
For now, enjoy the holidays and please party smart and be safe out there!