Have a Happy, Healthy Christmas

Christmas is nearly here and many of us are looking forward to celebrations, spending time with friends and relatives – and some time off work. But it can easily become a time of excess, so here are some simple tips on how to make this a Happy and Healthy Christmas from the team at Willow Chiropractic. 

• Eat well
  By that we mean make healthy choices rather than overindulge. Nutritionists recommend starting the day with a healthy breakfast such as porridge – the oats help to balance blood sugar levels and control your appetite later in the day (see our recipe for Bircher Muesli). Try and fill up on healthy foods – lean meat, fish and vegetables. It’s easier to say no to high calorie fatty foods if you are not hungry. And let’s hear it for the miuch maligned brussels sprout. They are a great source of vitamins B and C, which are thought to help to protect against heart disease and cancer. 
• Stay hydrated
  Your body depends on water to survive – every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work correctly so try and drink 6 – 8 glasses a day. Herbal teas, juices and even coffee count towards hydration but remember coffee is  a diuretic so too much can be counter-active. Read more about Hydration here.  
• Keep moving!
  Go for a lovely winter walk, do some daily stretching exercises, visit the gym between Christmas and the New Year or do some yoga. One way or another try to make exercise an integral part of your holiday break – you will feel so much better for it! Read more about the importance of making exercise part of your healthy lifestyle. 
• Avoid the chemical stressors
  Anything that goes into the body either nourishes us or doesn’t – so avoid the stuff that doesn’t! We are not saying you have to be a saint; just limit your intake of alcohol, sugar and salt  – all known chemical stressors – and it will help you avoid negative after effects such as hangovers, mood swings and excessive weight gain. A clever plan at a drinks party can be to alternate an alcoholic drink with a soft drink such as juice or water. Try and opt for fruit and nuts instead of chocolate and salty snacks.  Read about major stressors that affect your health. 
• Rest and relaxation 
  It’s what the (Chiropractic) Doctor ordered. Rest and relaxation protects your heart, boosts your immune system, improves memory function, lowers risk of stroke, helps fend off depression, improves decision making, keeps you slim, improves your skin, improves your love life and more! What more can we say to persuade you to take it easy? So instead of rushing around, try to make time to ‘down tools’ and simply be. Read about the benefits of rest here. 
• Look after your spine
  Good spinal health is key to feeling and being your best at all times. Because the nervous system controls every cell and organ in your body, we tend to focus our attention on the health of your spine ensuring that it is properly aligned.Your body has the amazing, innate ability to heal itself and it is our job to help create an environment to facilitate this. 

Willow Chiropractic will be open over the Christmas period, so if you do need to pop in for a treatment just give us a call to arrange an appointment to suit you. We look forward to seeing you soon, in the meantime, we wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year from the team at Willow Chiropractic.