Over the festive period many people find it hard to resist those little indulgencies but worry about putting on lots of weight, however you can still enjoy festive food and be healthy, as with most things, in moderation.

Christmas tends to be one of the most unhealthy times of year, everywhere you look Christmas goodies are thrown in your face, plentiful supplies of mince pies for the office, the extra drinks after work because ‘it Christmas’ and not forgetting the big day itself where many people seem to forget about portion control and gorge themselves on a big dinner and lots of chocolates biscuits and booze.

If you want to try and stay on top of your weigh this Christmas you don’t have to cut out all of the above, after all where is the fun in that?

Alcohol – Isn’t actually bad for you, if consumed in moderation, it actually can provide benefits that non drinkers miss out on like up to eight drinks a week (such as eight 125ml glasses of wine), or around one drink a day, can protect against osteoporosis. Or the occasional glass of red wine and sherry may protect against heart disease because of the polyphenols found in them. However with red wine and sherry drink too much you will feel the consequences, a thumping hangover.

Eating – The Christmas dinner isn’t that unhealthy, after all there are plenty of veg to be eaten which are very nutritional stock up on leafy greens like sprouts, also carrots, swede and roast parsnips, with just a couple of roast potatoes and lean turkey, for vitamin-, mineral- and fibre-rich food. You always find plenty of things to snack on and one of the main options are nuts, although high in fat they do contain unsaturated fat which is good for physical and mental health. They are also full of essential omega oils and other nutrients and if you go for unsalted and raw varieties like walnuts, brazils and almonds they make great snack choice in small amounts.

The main thing to remember over Christmas is to keep unhealthy fats to a minimum, however there is no need to restrict yourself completely, after all it is Christmas they odd mince pie wont harm!

Travel sickness is caused by the vestibular system in your inner ear not understanding the visual clues it is getting, basically your eyes telling you one thing and the balancing system in your ears telling another. It leaves you feeling sick, looking pale and clammy and also gives you a headache. A lot of people suffer travel sickness from a young age and generally grow out of it however for those who don’t there a couple of things you can do to help avoid travel sickness.

There are a few over the counter drugs that can prevent motion sickness however you do generally have to take them about 30 minutes before you travel.

There are also herbal remedies you can take, many people believe ginger can help in preventing motion sickness and with herbal remedies you won’t get any side affects unlike the over the counter drugs.

There are other options as well that don’t involve taking anything, you can get special wristbands the work by controlling your pulse or try simple things such as sitting by the window looking at the distance may help. Do not read books, watch videos, or play on a games console. Listening to story tapes is a good alternative. Do open a window.

As we are in full swing of the festive party season countless numbers of women will be suffering from sore feet due to the high heels they will have been partying the night away in. However there is now a solution to this, collagen fillers, like what’s used to get rid of crow’s feat and any other lines you may not like on your face, this can now be injected into the balls of your feet to stop them aching whilst wearing towering high heels.

There has been an increase in the past year in the number of women opting for this treatment. Collagen is a natural protein that is found in skin tissue, it does break down over time but this can now be replenished with injections which ‘fill out’ the skin, the procedure involves protein being injected into the balls of the feet, it costs £240 for a pair and lasts 2-3 months. The collagen does not need removing or altering once it has been injected and any slight side effects tend to last less than 48 hours which is ideal for the party season, where some women may find they are wearing their high heels more that usual.

As designer heels such as Christian Louboutin now pass the 8 inch mark more women will find that their feet can’t take all the wear and now can opt for this non surgical treatment, the fillers have been popular in America, but they are only just taking off here. The cosmetic surgeons at the Harley Medical Group have found that a growing numbers of women are now choosing the treatment in the run-up to Christmas. The group’s director Liz Dale said “When they put on their shoe, the transformation is immediate and they feel more comfortable and more able to dance or mingle the night away. The injections are integral padding and last just the right amount of time for the party season. Though there’s nothing to stop women having top-ups to keep the comfort going.”

High Heels

Picture courtesy of Markusram

Few would argue that a child’s health is not one of the most important issues facing modern parents today, particularly if you live and work in London, as finding time for regular checkups and sick visits may be a stretch for your already jam-packed schedule. The doctor may be overbooked and overscheduled, too, so making the most of your time together is important. This being so, what are the best ways in which we can communicate our concerns and questions to our child’s doctor, importantly, how do we strengthen the relationship with the doctor who plays such an important role in your child’s health?

We all know that the days of the doctor calling in to see the child as a routine matter doing his house calls have virtually gone; doctors are pressured to see more patients in less time and to spend less time with each patient. With these pressures and with ever increasing complexities of the health care system it means that today’s parents have to take charge of their kids’ care. In the past, parents may have known far less about their child’s health, growth, and development. With this in mind many parents are turning to a child doctor London practice where they can talk to a qualified practitioner who specialises in children’s health; this can be an online consultation, by telephone, or by making an appointment at their London surgery.

Winter is a particularly bad time of year for the National Blood Service, fewer people than normal give blood before Christmas, this means the current blood stocks are worryingly low and National Blood Service struggles to meet demand. Many people do not realise how dependant the NHS is on donated blood that is until they experience the benefits themselves. Shockingly only one in 25 of the UK population regularly donates blood, with the under 30’s least likely to donate.

If you are between the age of 17 and 65, are generally healthy and weigh at least 7st 12lb you will be eligible to give blood every 16 weeks. It’s a very easy process and doesn’t take long at all, you can call or look online on the National Blood Service website to find when and where your nearest session is and arrange an appointment. When you arrive you need to complete a Donor Health Check questionnaire and have a confidential discussion with the nurse who will then take a tiny drop of blood from your fingertip to check your haemoglobin levels, this is to make sure that giving blood won’t make you anaemic. If everything is okay you will then be able to go ahead and donate blood, this will be about 470ml, which is quickly replaced by your body. Once you have given blood you will have to rest for a short time after which you will be given some refreshments before you go, all in all the whole process shouldn’t take any longer than an hour.

Once your blood has been taken it will be sent to one of many blood centres across the country, here the blood will undergo a series of rigorous tests to make sure it’s clear of things like HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis. After the blood has been sorted into different types and all the tests are clear it will then be distributed to meet demand and will be used on whoever needs it the most.

It’s that time of your again when many of us will be heading off to the slopes of Austria or Canada for our well earned ski holidays. And whether you’re a seasoned skier or a first-timer, a bit of preparation beforehand can definitely help your skills and stamina, and also add to your enjoyment of the holiday.

There’s nothing worse than spending the first day of your ski holiday enjoying the slopes and the next two days in bed with a bad back or other painful aches. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, the trick is to get in shape before setting off. If you want to get the most benefit and enjoyment  from your valuable time on the slopes, then start training at least 4 weeks before you go by targeting the muscles that control your skiing and snowboarding. Most of us hit the slopes and plan on skiing all day, even if it’s been months or years since we last skied and by afternoon, you get so tired that you lose focus. This is often the time when injuries and accidents happen as the more tired you are, the more your concentration suffers and muscles become increasingly slower and weaker to respond.

What makes skiing holidays such great exercise is that it uses all of your muscle groups, although some muscles are used more than others and these are the ones you want to concentrate on when it comes to your pre-holiday training.  The primary muscles used in skiing are your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, inner and outer thighs, abs and back and your arms

To build stamina and prepare your heart and body for long-term skiing, you need to have a cardio programme in place at least 4 weeks before you go which should include 3 to 5 days each week of your favourite activity (the best for skiing include running, step aerobics or cross trainer).  Try to have a variety of workouts lasting from 20 to 45 minutes. As you get closer to your trip, you can also add time to one of your workouts so that you have one long workout each week.             

It is easy to make yourself feel good about your body, about yourself and the world around you. Women who take care of themselves have an inner glow that shows on their faces and in the way they carry themselves. A day spa treatment is about providing the time, space and expertise for women to renew that glow; this can apply whether you are coming in for a full day of treatments or just to relax in the atmosphere of a traditional Thai day spa London with a close friend.

Drawing on ancient rituals with modern day touches, the unique Thai spa treatment creates luxurious treatments that recharge your body’s essential energies and envelop you in a world of new discovery. You will find that your muscles are eased, minds are restored and you are left feeling completely at ease. At the same time you can, if you wish, catch up with friends or indulge in some precious ‘me’ time. A day spa in London is the perfect retreat from the stresses of a busy London life.

Inspired by ancient traditions and philosophies and combined with modern day touches, the spa treatment provide a unique pampering and relaxation experience, allowing you to unwind, escape and fully rejuvenate. The trained therapists will work with you helping you leave the cares and worries of the day behind. Having skin treatment is certain to give you a lift and you will come away, not just with an inner glow, but boosting the skin’s own natural.

The party season is now getting into full swing with Christmas parties offering 3 course meals, the alcohol flowing, mince pies in abundance and the big Christmas dinner to contend with it’s no surprise that people put weight on over Christmas. Even if you do try to watch what you eat or ignore the temptations you may still find yourself putting on weight, with a lot of people not realising other things in their life have an effect on your weight, like not getting enough sleep, which over the festive season can happen quite frequently with everything that goes on, some studies have shown people who get less than seven hours’ sleep a night are more likely to put weight on than those who do. If you decide that you are going to be good this season by completely cutting out alcohol to lose weight, you might want to think again because studies have found that if you completely cut out alcohol you are more likely to put on more weight than when you have a single drink a couple of times a week, however over drinking does increase your chances of becoming obese by 46%.
If you are struggling to manage your weight there are options out there to give you a helping hand:

• Exercising – Even if you’re not overeating it recommended as part of a healthy life style to try and include exercise in your daily routine, 30 minutes of brisk walking a day can help keep a health heart, however you need to make sure just because you are exercising not to overeat more than normal as weight loss does require most things in moderation.

• Healthier Options – Look at what you eat, can you make it healthier? For example cut out frying foods and opt for grilling or steaming, if you taking the healthy option of a salad don’t go and ruin it by adding an dressing instead opt for it on the side so you don’t have to put too much on and also remember to try and avoid creamy and cheesy foods.

• Weight loss aides – On top of the tips above there are also treatments available to aide in weight loss if you fall under the category of obese, such as Xenical which blocks the absorption of fat and controls the intake into your system, it is recommended with all weight loss aides to also stick to a healthy diet and avoid fatty foods eat sensibly and as with any health lifestyle exercise.

mince pies

Picture courtsey of KaiChanVong