YOURHEALT

Xmas may come just once a year, but here’s why you should try sticking with these healthy festive customs the whole year round…

Be more child-like

“On Christmas Day, when the Twister mat is laid out or Aunt Dorothy suggests a game of charades, it doesn’t take us long to find the child within,” says life coach and author Angela Cox.

“Yet, we tend to pack our seven-yearold selves away with the decorations and return to being an adult – pressing pause on our fun side for another year. This year, try to keep laughing and show your silly side a little more often.”

...and play more board games

Board games allow us to get together and strengthen bonds with family and friends. There’s a feel-good element to sitting around a table and having some light-hearted competition with people you care about.

It helps to release endorphins which not only make you feel good, but can relieve stress. Meanwhile, getting children into board games helps them to build essential cognitive skills, such as problem solving.

Also, it means the children spend less time trying to kill each other on the PS4!

Sing out loud

According to research, as well as building confidence and improving mental health, singing carols can bring physical benefits as well.

Apparently, belting out a tune can help to increase lung capacity and strengthen the muscles used in the breathing process to inspire stronger, more controlled breaths.

It’s beneficial if you have a lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which the airways are narrow or obstructed.

The British Lung Foundation runs Singing for Lung Health groups across the UK. See blf.org.uk for details.

Cook from scratch

“During the festive season many families sit down to feasts of roasted meats, colourful veggies and homemade recipes,” says Angela.

When we don’t have the pressures of our usual commitments like work and school, there’s more opportunity to cook from scratch, which is healthier.

Alison adds: “But all too often the lure of convenience foods means our microwaves are pinging again as soon as the New Year chimes stop ringing.

“Make a change and take the essence of creating healthy meals from scratch into 2019, that way you will benefit from the additional vitamins, minerals and fibre in fresh produce all year.”

Keep eating sprouts

“Most of us only ever eat sprouts once a year, but turning this traditional food into a staple can have a positive effect on your health,” says Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist Click.

“Brussels sprouts are high in anti-oxidants, especially kaempferol, which has been proven to reduce the growth of cancer cells, improve heart They const

Belting out a tune can help increase lung capacity and strengthen the muscles used in the breathing process

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