Hidden plusses of pigging out

TIS the season to eat, drink and be merry so it’s normal to not feel at your healthiest over Christmas.

But don’t be overcome with guilt – because many of our naughty festive favourites have a good side too. Yes, really. Here’s our guide to the hidden benefits of the season’s treats.

Red wine

A full-bodied glass of merlot or your favourite red will wash down many a Christmas dinner.

And while it’s best not to get carried away, the antioxidants in red wine can help cut the risk of heart disease, protect against cancer and even fight wrinkles.

Christmas turkey

A great source of protein and naturally low in fat when eatenen without the skin, the centrepiece of your lunch is actually pretty good for you.

The white meat is rich in vitamins B3 and B6 and, even better, it’s high in tryptophan, which will boost your mood on the big day.

Cranberry sauce

Make sure you pop a spoonful of this sauce on to your plate because it is packed with antioxidants and nutrients essential for good health.

Studies have even linked cranberries with reduced risks of heart disease and breast cancer.

Roasted parsnips

Low in calories and high in fibre, parsnips are a great side for your dinner tomorrow.

They contain the antioxidant falcarinol, which can help to reduce your risk of cancer, and are high in folate, which cuts your

ch chances of high blood pressure.

R Roast potatoes

The starchy carb is a great source of potassium and is rich in fibre, meaning you stay full for longer. G Goose fat, an ideal way to get crisp crispy spuds, is lower in saturated fat than butter and has a good am amount of a very healthy monounsaturated fat called oleic acid. Coconut oil also has a very high amount.

Christmas pudding

Yes, it’s a stodgy and calorific treat but Christmas pud is also packed with dried fruit, nutrients and fibre.

You can also benefit from spices such as cinnamon, which helps control blood sugar levels, and nutmeg, a great digestion aid.

Chocs

Under the Christmas tree, in your advent calendar, scoffed after dinner – tempting chocolates are everywhere at Christmas.

But don’t worry, chocolate contains flavanols, thought to reduce memory loss in older people, improve your skin and reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol, potentially cutting your risk of heart disease.

A Finnish study found cocoa reduced the risk of having a stroke by 17 per cent in those who were tested.

Cheese

Enjoy tucking in to a festive cheese board? Go for it. It might not be as naughty as you think.

A 2014 study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology suggested that saturated fats such as those found in many dairy foods could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Professor Arne Astrup, from the University of Copenhagen, said: “People who eat a lot of dairy show no difference in their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or mortality compared with people who eat small amounts.

“If anything, there is a small risk reduction – so it is actually beneficial.”

Sherry

Protect your heart with a glass of this fortified wine which contains polyphenols to stop “bad” cholesterol building up as a deposit on blood vessel walls.

Sherry also increases production of “good” cholesterol, which experts believe carries harmful cholesterol away from the arteries and back towards the liver, from where it is passed from the body.