Don’t be a victim of the holiday blues and over indulging.

What is it about the holiday season that puts people under so much stress? If you answered “lack of money,” then you rank with the 61 percent of Americans who cite this as the number-one reason for holiday stress, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. Following the lack of money were the pressures of gift giving, not enough time and credit card debt.  Holiday stress has become a growing concern as one out of every five Americans are worried that the excess stress could potentially affect their physical health. Common coping methods that over one-third of Americans turned to were eating and drinking to soothe their stresses. On a positive note, the poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans use  exercise as a stress-coping tool, while 44 percent utilize religious and spiritual practices. Additionally, a small percentage took advantage of massage and yoga. Experts stressed that most people turn to what they are most familiar with when faced with stressful situations and as such a common familiar coping strategy involved eating or drinking alcohol. Even though these activities aren't good for their health, people take solace in them because they provide them with a sense of comfort.

Many people find themselves faced with enormous amounts of stress over the holiday season. Whether it's a never-ending list of things to do or a lack of time or money, most end up resorting to unhealthy ways to soothe overwhelming feelings of stress.  So if you're experiencing intense feelings of stress this holiday season keep in mind that you are not alone. The most important thing you can do for yourself is find healthy ways of coping with these stresses before turning to negative, not to mention short-term, sources of comfort such as eating unhealthy foods and drinking alcohol.

People might find they have an increasingly difficult time controlling their stress levels particularly over the winter holidays.  This  is because seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression, is especially prominent during this time of year when many people suffer a deficit of sunlight as well as fresh air. I recommend going outside and taking a morning  walk for 15 to 30 minutes. It must be the early morning sun. You will find your  moods will lighten. In addition to these stress-reducing strategies, another  effective tool I use in my practice to help my patients get a better handle on  stress and keep things in perspective is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).  (Go to Dr. Mercola's EFT site for a wonderful video shoing you how to use this technique.)

With the Christmas and Hanukkah season soon approaching, this is the time of year when sticking to a healthy diet can be most challenging. The change of season alone can cause some people to overeat. It is important to not overeat. This is not the time to start restricting your calories to the point where you’re so hungry even your great aunt’s fruitcake starts to look good. The trick is to eat small meals or snacks frequently throughout the day. This way, you won’t ever really feel hungry, and you’ll be able to resist all those grains and high-sugar foods that will sabotage your healthy diet.

Fill up on all the nutritious foods, like healthy meat, raw milk cheese, vegetables, or some berries that you want and you  won’t feel that you’re missing out. Some basic changes can make your holiday  meals much more nutritious. Instead of potatoes and bread, have a variety of  healthy vegetable side dishes. If you must have potatoes, use sweet potatoes or  even mashed cauliflower.  And, make sure that you choose healthy meat that is not  filled with antibiotics and hormones.

Focus on the real meaning of the holidays and you’ll quickly see that family and friends are at the center. Take advantage  of this time with your loved ones, and look forward to talking and being with  those who you care about, rather than focusing on food.

Your perceptions will have a great impact.  If you think that you should eat a lot just because it is Christmas, or a new  year’s party, then you probably will. However, if you look at it as though it is  just another meal, then it will be easier to keep your eating habits under control.

Merry  Christmas from Dr. Donna and Back to the Basics!
1 Comment