HEALTH & BEAUTY
KEEP CALM & CARRY ON….
Finish this year the way you mean to
start the next: calm and stress-free with our seasonal survival tips, plus news on a new fertility clinic and beauty buys
Keep calm over Christmas and into 2016 with our suggestions…
ACUPUNCTURE
Originating in China and far eastern culture, today acupuncture has a strong hold in mainstream healthcare in the UK. Traditional acupuncture aims to treat the whole person rather than just a specifi c symptom. Its basis is the concept of ‘Qi’ (pronounced chee) – which is an individual’s vital energy. When our ‘Qi’ is strong and balanced, we function smoothly in body and mind and manage our lives well; if our ‘Qi’ is weak, we are more prone to sickness and malaise. Christmas can bring additional pressures, which can trigger a variety of underlying issues. Sometimes people aren’t even sure what is wrong but simply don’t ‘feel themselves’ – which isn’t helped when we are constantly bombarded with images of happy festive families. It’s no wonder we react by becoming tense! Despite the fact that acupuncture uses needles, these are much fi ner than anything used for injections and you will experience simply a tingling or dull ache. It is advised to inform your GP that you are considering acupuncture; similarly your acupuncturist will ask about any medicines or supplements you are taking. • British Acupuncture Council, visit www.
acupuncture.org.uk
YOGA
Whether it’s Christmas time or modern life in general that’s accelerating your stress levels, yoga’s concentration on breathing
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can even out the ups and downs, keep you calm and inject positivity and energy. It’s even supposed to boost memory – perfect if you’ve forgotten where you stashed the presents! Yoga focuses on drawing attention
to your breathing – something we take for granted but which really makes a difference to our body’s responses. It’s also known to decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and is calming for the nervous system – keeping the fight or flight responses at bay.
Sometimes when we feel we are
resting and relaxing (watching TV or entertaining friends) we are still alert and pumping out adrenalin. Breathing affects every system in our bodies, and calming things down is felt all the way through.
BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
With festive food in abundance it’s easy to indulge without remembering the foods we need to keep healthy. Over the busy Christmas period, awareness of blood sugar levels and nutrient intake can really help keep stress levels down and energy high. Increased awareness needn’t equal a boring diet, however, and could result in newfound energies and a sense of calm that takes you striding into 2016 and beyond.
A peak of blood sugar is always followed by a dip (sometimes called sugar imbalance).
So, if you’re feeling stressed and tired – being over alert at night or drowsy during the day – this may indicate that your blood sugar levels are swinging between too high and very low. If it is low you are likely to feel tired. You
are also in an ‘energy-starved’ state, which causes the body to release stress hormones (adrenaline and then cortisol) to help cope. Not exactly helping you to feel calm! The good news is that even at Christmas you can balance things out… • Start the day with a breakfast that contains protein. This is digested more slowly than fats or carbs and reduces the after-meal blood sugar surge. This keeps you calm and also full, so you’re more likely to resist extra treats. For a seasonal twist, mix low fat Greek yoghurt (protein) with a Christmas satsuma and top with crushed walnuts. • With so many Xmas meals to get through, pile your plate with veg and reduce potatoes, as these can cause a blood sugar surge. • Keep hydrated, especially if you are drinking more alcohol. Even mild dehydration can make you feel stressed, anxious and fatigued. • Don’t be tempted to skip meals. Blood sugar levels stay more balanced if you eat regularly.
NUTRIENTS
Vitamins and minerals are vital for energy and calm. Increase your intake of nutrients to support stress glands (adrenals) and energy production. The good news is that
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