How to stay healthy this festive season
Wondering how to stay healthy during festive seasons when you are surrounded by delicious food? Here are some tips for you and your family:
Kenya is a nation known for its melting pot
of cultures and traditions. Festive seasons are celebrated throughout the year,
namely, Easter holidays, Ramadan, Diwali, National holidays, Christmas and New
Year holidays.
Family reunions are almost a ‘must,’ and it
is always accompanied by lots of food. This just describes how much we love food, especially
during celebrations.
Although we show our love and appreciation
for our loved ones through food, too much can result in health issues. ‘I put
on 5kg in one week!’ is a common complaint we hear after festive seasons.
In addition to excessive food consumption and
binge eating during festive seasons, there are a few other reasons health is compromised.
Sedentary routines become a norm during the holidays. Unhealthy food,
inadequate rest, disrupted routines, and inactivity and no exercise during the
holidays, can take a toll on our health if no intentional steps are taken to
stay in shape.
A 2017 study on the effect of the holiday
season and weight gain found that adults gained 0.4 to 0.9 kg during the
Christmas holidays, measured from the last week of November to the first week
of January. Although this study pertains to the United States, it could likely
be applied to Kenyans too. After all, most, if not all, of our festivities tend
to centre around food and, quite often, unhealthy food.
So, how can we stay healthy during the
festive seasons? We have got some tips; trust us, it is possible.
With so much food readily available during
the festive seasons, it can be challenging to monitor how much we eat. So here
are some tips to help you maintain your waistline.
We all love festive season snacks and
confectionaries. However, most snacks are high in fat and sugar, contributing
to increased weight and health issues.
Instead of the usual snacks, healthier
alternatives are available. For example, nuts, dates, trail mixes, and dried
food are perfect if you love to munch. Additionally, honey can be used as a
substitute for sugar, brown rice for white rice etc.
We are well aware that oily, fatty foods are unhealthy.
However, a lot of food tends to be fried during the festive season. Sugar and
salt are also often added to enhance the flavours.
Healthy cooking methods such as baking,
roasting, grilling, and steaming are good alternatives to frying.
We may forget how much we are eating when we
are feeling festive and end up binge eating during the festive seasons.
To avoid overeating, be aware of your food
portion.
Commercial festive treats often contain high
quantities of refined sugar, flour, and fat, which make them extremely
unhealthy. One way to combat this is to make your own cakes, cookies, and
treats at home as you can control the amount of sugar in the recipe.
Additionally, you will also be able to use better-quality ingredients.
Drinking lots of water keeps you hydrated. It
will also help remove toxins from your body. Besides this, sometimes festive
foods contain lots of salt, and thus, adequate water intake is a must.
We often stay up late during festivals; this
usually means that the eating continues past our usual dinner time. Supper and
midnight snacks are a norm during these celebrations. However, our metabolism
tends to slow down at night, causing unhealthy weight gain.
7. Limit consumption of alcohol & sweet
beverages
Alcohol and sweet fizzy drinks are high in
calories. Our bodies turn these excess calories into fat if they are not burnt
off. Thus, it is best to limit or, even better, avoid alcohol and soda.
Choose healthy alternatives such as fresh
juices without added sugar, unsweetened coconut water, or green tea.
Another way to stay healthy during the
festivities is to stay active. Exercise helps you burn off the extra calories
from all the festive food and helps you stay in shape. In addition, it flushes
out toxins from your body, improves blood circulation, builds immunity against
germs and viruses, and releases feel-good endorphins.
2. Go for a walk with family
3. Have a sporting match with friends and
family
Although we are likely to stay up late
enjoying the festivities during the holidays, our bodies must get enough rest
and adequate sleep. The benefits of sufficient sleep include:
2. Maintaining a healthy weight
3. Reduces the risk of health issues such as
heart disease
4. Improves decision-making - thus, avoiding
accidents and injuries.
6. Improves mood
Take your daily medications, if applicable
With all the food, fun, busyness, and
excitement, it can be easy to forget about medication. However, if you have
health issues and take daily medication, you must continue to monitor your
health during the festivities. Set an alarm as a reminder and place your
medication somewhere you can see (for example, bedside table) so you do not
miss any doses.
Besides being mindful of your diet, staying
active, getting adequate rest, and taking your medications, another intentional
step one can take to stay healthy is to go for routine health screenings at
least once a year.
Health is a commodity that should be
appreciated and taken care of. Thus, it is important that intentional steps,
such as eating moderately and exercising, are taken to ensure our bodies are as
healthy as possible.
To make an appointment for health screening, contact
the health screening centre at The Nairobi West Hospital along Gandhi Avenue in
Nairobi West.
[By Dr. Mufaddal Shokat is a Resident
Physician at The Nairobi West Hospital.]
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