Christmas and New Year are fast approaching and our pace of life is rapidly sped up. That means we need to pace ourselves to get through it unscathed. Let’s face it, none of us wants to end up in bed nursing a hangover or because we’ve overdone it and made ourselves unwell, do we?
For many of us, there is one thing missing on the long list of things to do at Christmas, stay hydrated. You may think it’s not top of your list but it’s vital if you want to stay on top of your game. In fact, staying hydrated will help you avoid a hangover, stop you feeling rough and keep all your cells functioning properly. And, the good thing is, it’s simple to do.
Herbal teas are a great way to keep your water levels topped up and they’re good for you, too. Green tea, for example, is full of polyphenols, natural chemicals found in plant-based foods and beverages. They are great antioxidants and protect us from many diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer to name a few.
If you’re heading out to a party you should drink as much (non-alcoholic) fluid as possible during the day to avoid dehydration and that dreaded hangover. Water is preferable but you can mix it up with herbal teas or squash but try to limit your intake of fruit juice and caffeinated drinks like normal tea and coffee. Before you leave for your party, drink a glass of water to get you prepared for the night ahead.
While you’re out enjoying yourself, try to take on some water as well as alcohol and choose the non-salty foods on offer. These will help to prevent you from becoming dehydrated and when the night is over, have a glass of water before you got to bed. Doing so, can help dilute the alcohol in your system, keep you hydrated and prevent the banging head the next morning!
You can do this too on the big day. Sitting around the dinner table anticipating the arrival of the juicy turkey is a great excuse to pop open the Prosecco. However, the fizz can make you feel full before you’ve even started and the alcohol can leave your cells gasping for water. So, during the meal take sips of water instead. It won’t fill you up quickly and it’ll keep you well hydrated.
If you don’t have one already, get one of our Tracker bottles on your Christmas list or if you’ve missed the last order date, buy one with your Christmas money as part of your New Year’s Resolutions. They not only look great, help reduce your disposable plastic use but show you just how much (or little) water you’re drinking during the day. Go on, you know you want one!
Sources
Pandey, K, B and Rizvi, S, I. (2009). Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev: 2(5), pp 270-278.