Tips to avoid the festive hangover
DRINKING water, eating bananas, and cutting out sugarladen “health” drinks could help festive revellers avoid a Christmas hangover and the bulge.
Birmingham City University experts have come up with a “survival guide” aimed at reducing the impact of over-indulging.
Senior lecturer Dr Matthew Cole and four students from his sports and exercise nutrition course, came up with simple rules to tackle a perennial problem.
After nutritional analysis they found that toxins from alcohol, extra sugars from so-called healthy drinks and physical inactivity were among key issues.
The group drew up a shortlist to help people dodge festive bloat:
Drink more water – H20 flushes toxins from over-indulgence, rehydrates and boosts the immune system.
Cut sugary “health” drinks – often containing too much sugar.
Exercise – inactivity over Christmas is a major cause of weight gain and a reduction in bone and muscle health. Exercise reduces toxins and boosts mood.
Increase vitamin intake – eating foods rich in potassium (like bananas), magnesium, iron and zinc will keep you going on the dance floor. Dried fruit and green vegetables will help.
Balance your eating – with a mix of macro-nutrients, like carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and micro-nutrients, like vitamins and antioxidants.
Dr Cole said: “We all know that people will be spending time partying, seeing friends and family, and having fun over Christmas, and that often comes with illness, tiredness and hangovers.
“What we wanted to do was give people a few basic tips that could help them feel a bit fresher over the Christmas period.
“While we all know that mince pies and chocolate are going to contain high levels of sugar, what is often hidden is the amount of sugar in some healthy drinks and fruit juices.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) charity has challenged people to swap festive chocolate for vegetable sticks, satsumas and plain popcorn.
Treats at Christmas mean that on average people gain between 1lb and 5lb (1kg to 2.5kg) in weight, the organisation said. Maintaining the right weight can help cut cancer risk, it added.