Tips to be healthy at Christmas

Doctors Barcelona gives you some healthy tips to survive the Christmas period. You can still enjoy your holidays without being too unhealthy.

The streets full of lights, the gift hunt, the warm drinks, the cold air and the delicious food. While Christmas might be the most magical time of the year, it is also the period in which you will traditionally overfeed yourself. Our English speaking doctors in Barcelona recommend you some healthy tips to survive and stay healthy during the Christmas holidays!

1.While enjoying the holidays, do not sit all day!

Christmas means food (a lot of food) and it’s nice to share it with family and friends. However, you do not need to sit all day at home. You can convince your friends and family to have a walk, or to do an activity that involves movement, like ice skating, riding a bike, playing football.. It will help you to digest and to stay in shape. 

If you would like to be back on track after the Christmas holidays, you can read our previous article about Running in Barcelona. 

2. Go easy on alcohol

We know that Christmas means booze: mulled wine, brandy, cava, wine and many others. But while celebrating, you should try to control your daily alcohol intake.

What is considered a moderate alcohol intake? It is advisable to drink responsibly. 

• Alcohol and your hearth: Research shows that a high alcohol intake can damage our hearth. Heavy drinking can damage our heart muscle and it can lead to high blood pressure or stroke.
• Alcohol and your brain: Numerous researches suggest that a high alcohol intake can damage our mental health, damage our memory skills and reduce fertility.

3. Drink enough water

Even in this jolly time of the year, try to keep yourself hydrated. It is really important to drink enough water in your daily routine. It is recommended to drink at least 1 liter of water each day.

Water plays a fundamental role in our health, it helps you:

• Carrying nutrients and oxygen to our cells,
• Preventing constipation,
• Regulating the body temperature,
• Protecting organs and tissues,
• Aiding the digestion,
• Cleaning the bacteria from your bladder,
• Normalising your blood pressure.

4. Do not stuff yourself with Christmas food

We all know that Christmas holidays means eating. Recent researches suggest that we consume 3.000 calories during our Christmas dinner, or rather more than the entire recommended daily intake of an adult. Within a healthy lifestyle, an adult man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to keep his weight. Women should limit the intake around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Our English doctors in Barcelona say that those values can change according to age and physical activity. During the Christmas holidays you should try to eat a normal sized meal, without overdoing. Try to control your portions and choose dishes with plenty of vegetables and fruits.

5. Avoid alcohol on an empty stomach

You should control your alcohol intake, especially when you have an empty stomach. It can increase your appetite and decrease your ability to control what you eat.

6. Make sure you eat fruits and vegetables

While being at parties, try to not ignore fruit and vegetables. In this way, you will be healthier waiting for the dessert.

7. Do not stress at Chistmas

This period of the year can be a source of stress for many people. We have a lot list of things to do, like buying gifts or prepare parties. It is important to learn how to manage stress during holidays. Try for example to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and the Christmas Markets.  Do not forget that Christmas means relaxation and celebration. It is about spending time with your friends and family.

Have fun this Christmas and remember that If you have a healthy lifestyle, it’s okay to indulge or overeat once in a while.

Our team of English doctors in Barcelona wishes you a Merry Christmas and it is always there in times of need!