How To Stay Healthy During The Holidays

1. Celebrate Only for One Day – Enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas! It’s okay to indulge a little on these two days but not for the whole season. Did you know you can cripple your immune system for up to 5 hours after eating sugar! Glucose, fructose and sucrose all significantly decrease the bodies ability to respond to invading microbes.
2. Stay Active – The lymphatic system, the system that gets rid of our waste is dependent on muscular contractions because it doesn’t have a pump. In order to keep the immune system working well we need to move. Even if it’s just walking around the house.
3. Take Time for Yourself – Whether it’s taking a 1 min deep breathing break during your day, going to sleep early or just daydreaming for 5 mins. We need to set breaks into our day to keep our minds healthy. 
4. Have a Healthy Mindset – This season cannot be an all or nothing effort. Expect the unexpected and have a plan to keep you accountable.

It’s been shown pretty clearly that as daylight decreass, starting in fall, people will have more feelings of deprssion and anxiety. If there are feelings of depression and anxiety they will report stress.” Dr. Elinre McCance-Katz Psychiatrist and chief Medical officer at HHS.

7 Ways To Reduce Stress

1. Exercise – At least 10 mins per day

2. Practice Deep Breathing –  Take 2-5 mins per day

3. Eat Stress Reducing Foods – Almonds, Oatmeal, Turkey, Greens, Oranges, Blueberries, Avocado, Salmon

4. Laugh – Look up jokes on the internet or just pretend to laugh. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.

5. Be Grateful – Make a list of things you are grateful for.

6. Meditate – Take a few minutes to think of positive and healing thoughts.

7. Light a Candle or Diffuse Essential Oil – Scents that work well to help fight stress: Lavender, Rose, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Orange Blossom

1. Mindful Self Talk – How do you view yourself? Positive self talk can boost your confidence, eliminate stress and help improve performance.

2. 5 Color Meals – Make half your plate fruits or veggies.

3. Breathe – Dedicate 1 – 5 minutes per day to deep breathing to relax, detox and refresh the mind.

4. Move for 10 –  Only 10 minutes of exercise a day has been shown to enhance immune function, boost endorphins and improve general fitness.

5. Have Enjoyment Everyday – Do something that makes you smile everyday. Watch something that makes you laugh, take a fitness class, call a friend, play a game, dance, ect.