Christmas time comes every year - and with it the preparations for the festival. Presents are obtained and cookies are baked, the house is festively decorated. Advent is filled with hectic activity and unrest. The menu for the holidays is determined, the ingredients have to be bought, everything should be perfect for the festival and always with the split feeling with regard to the culinary traditions. You can use the Enjoy the gluttony of the holidaysif you take a few things to heart.
Relax in the stressful Christmas season!
In the stressful Christmas season there is no room for reflection and inner contemplation. That pulls on the nerves, and you quickly feel overwhelmed. On the holidays, the power reserves are usually completely exhausted and disagreements and arguments in the family are inevitable. To avoid this, allow enough time for relaxation.
This is of course not easy, because the to-do list is long. But not every point on the list has to be worked through. It is much more important to take a personal break every day, to create a small island for yourself, on which everyday life and the preparations for the festivities have no access. A cup of coffee or tea on the couch, a good book, a visit to the cinema, a walk, a massage, a sauna or a meeting with friends helps some people to switch off a little.
Others listen to music, meditate, or exercise, thereby lowering their stress levels. This not only spares the nerves, the body is also so well prepared for Christmas, because the holidays and the associated feasting demand maximum performance from it.
Five tips to avoid bloating
Christmas is the time of culinary delights. Cookies, gingerbread, Stollen, but also hearty roasts and of course the famous Christmas goose are delicious, but also high-calorie temptations that are heavy on the stomach and can also be felt on the scales. The following five tips can help to avoid the feeling of fullness:
- 1. Combine fruit and sweets
A balanced diet rich in vitamins is particularly important at Christmas. So that not only sweets are consumed, fruit should also be on the menu. This can be combined very well with sweets. In addition to the obligatory cookies, a bowl of tangerines, oranges, pineapples, kiwis or apples can also be served for afternoon coffee.
Apples contain pectin, a fiber that is indigestible for the human organism. In this way the metabolism is stimulated. This is an important factor, especially when the stomach is mainly fed with food that is difficult to digest at Christmas. In addition to pectins, apples also contain a lot of vitamin C, minerals and trace elements that strengthen the immune system.
In addition to vitamin C, mandarins and oranges are rich in fibers that promote detoxification. The citrus fruits can also help lower cholesterol levels. In addition to vitamins A, B and C, pineapples and kiwis contain many minerals and trace elements. In addition, they are rich in enzymes that stimulate protein digestion and support fat burning.
- 2. Cinnamon tea against the snack hyper
Cookies, stollen and gingerbread are just as much a part of Christmas as gifts. Of course, it is difficult to stand firm and resist the snack hyper. To avoid the temptation to eat too many sweets, a cup of cinnamon tea a day can help.
Cinnamon is a spice that originally comes from Sri Lanka and was often used in ancient times because of its health-promoting properties. Cinnamon is tasty and has many positive properties. It strengthens the immune system because it is rich in vitamins B1 and C, as well as iron, magnesium and calcium. The spice has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
It can lower cholesterol and counteract diabetes. Cinnamon contains fiber and its own thermogenic effect boosts fat burning. This can reduce the cravings for sweets. Instead of cutting off another slice of stollen, it's better to enjoy a cup of cinnamon tea.
- 3. Fish instead of frying
Most families have the obligatory goose on the table at Christmas. But it doesn't always have to be a luscious roast goose that is heavy on the stomach. A lighter, but no less tasty alternative is fish. It is impossible to imagine Mediterranean cuisine without it and there is a reason for that. Because fish is a supplier of many important minerals and trace elements.
It is rich in iodine, vitamins A, D and many B vitamins. In addition, fish contains important saturated fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids, which protect the heart and circulation and thus reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Fish is also very low in cholesterol. Salmon, carp, eel, mackerel and trout are particularly popular in this country. Fried, steamed or boiled, fish is a very good alternative to fondue or roast goose.
- 4. Skip a meal
The Christmas holidays are pure stress for the stomach and intestines. But they don't have to degenerate into a dining marathon. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee, and dinner - over several days - mean heavy work for the digestive tract, as there is often not enough time to digest the food.
However, ideally, there should be several hours between meals. The body uses this time to digest food and burn fat. However, if he is constantly being supplied with "food", this system gets out of hand. It should therefore be considered whether one can perhaps do without lunch or afternoon coffee.
- 5. Raw vegetables instead of red cabbage
Red cabbage is a popular side dish with Christmas goose. The vegetables contain vitamin C, selenium, folic acid and potassium and are also very low in calories. Not only cooked, but also raw it is a healthy pleasure. A salad made from red cabbage is a light and tasty alternative and can be combined with apples or pears.
But other types of vegetables can also be served as raw vegetables. Carrots or celery, for example, can be cut into sticks and served with dips. A colorful salad plate provides many important vitamins, is a healthy side dish and can even be the main meal.
Movement against holiday laziness
The Christmas holidays don't have to be a calorie trap. The suggestions mentioned here show that it is possible to ensure a healthy and balanced diet and not gain weight even during the festive season. However, all of this is only half as effective when the only movement is to walk from the dining table to the couch and back again.
Getting enough exercise also helps boost your metabolism. Anyone who completes a sports program in everyday life should continue this over Christmas. But it doesn't necessarily have to be jogging through the park or going to the gym. Ice skating or a long walk can also counteract the holiday sluggishness.
.jpg)
