Let’s face it: everyone is a little guilty of over-indulging during the holidays. The season’s festivities are enough to encourage many to abandon their commitment to healthy eating. While there’s nothing wrong with letting loose and enjoying everything the holidays offer, you may regret those choices later as your body struggles to adjust. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to get back on track and feel better than ever. In this article, we’ll explore several healthy eating tips that make all the difference during your post-holiday recovery.
Post-Holiday Detox: Understanding the Effects of Holiday Indulgence
There’s so much to love about the holidays. You have beautiful surroundings, great people and plenty of opportunities to make memories. In many cases, those picture-perfect moments occur when surrounded by treats that compel you to throw everything you know about holistic nutrition out the window!
While some try to resist the temptation, there’s only so much you can do before you start throwing caution to the wind. The problem with holiday indulgence is that it can negatively impact your wellness in many ways. Holiday eating is all about overconsumption. It’s enjoying treats that are high-calorie, high-sodium, high-sugar and full of overly processed ingredients.
When you go from healthy eating guided by a registered dietitian or nutritionist to consuming as much holiday food as possible, your body tends to react poorly. That overindulgence leads to bloating, digestive trouble and general sluggishness, leaving you feeling awful in your post-holiday haze.
Healthy Eating Tips to Restart Your Health Journey
Once the magic of the holiday season ends, poor habits can catch up with you quickly and leave you starting the new year already behind on your wellness goals. Follow these tips to reset your body and get back on track:
- Avoid Crash Diets and Unsustainable Detox Plans: You shouldn’t punish yourself for enjoying the holidays! Extreme calorie restrictions can have the opposite effect you want, forcing your body into starvation mode while dealing with nutrient deficiencies. Instead of going to extremes, do things slowly and under the guidance of a registered dietitian.
- Stay Hydrated: Increasing your water intake is paramount. Hydration will help your body recover while helping improve digestion.
- Focus on Whole Foods: Processed foods from the holidays can leave you feeling awful due to their high levels of unhealthy fats, sugar and sodium. During your post-holiday detox, cut processed foods and prioritize natural whole foods. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and more can bring balance back to your body.
- Eat with Intention: After weeks of over-eating, it’s time to start eating with intention. Resist the urge to eat when you’re bored. When meal time comes, consume your food slowly to optimize nutrient absorption and digestion.
- Load Up on Nutrient-Rich Foods: Nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables are a must when recovering from the holidays. They can help flush out the unhealthy junk, replenishing your body with everything it needs to thrive.
Meeting Your Goals with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist
In addition to following the tips above, the best way to get your body back on track is to work with a certified holistic nutritionist. Holistic nutritionists provide one-on-one coaching, helping you meet your unique wellness goals. Everyone is different, and balancing your mind, body and spirit is more than perfecting dietary choices.
Holistic nutrition considers the bigger picture, taking factors like your lifestyle, current relationship with food, emotional state and more into account. Nutritionists guide you in the right direction, empowering you to make changes that help you look and feel your best.
When you’re ready to kick bad habits, leave holiday indulgences in the past and make strides towards healthier living in the new year, turn to Inspirit Health Group. Inspirit Health Group is a multidisciplinary clinic providing holistic, integrative care. Our certified holistic nutritionists are ready to help you recover from the holidays and on a path toward a brighter tomorrow.
