The Reality Check On Holiday Food Coma
by Prudence Athearn Levy, MS, RD, LD Vineyard Gazette November 26th, 2013It’s that time of year when it seems everything revolves around food. Thanksgiving dinners, savory crispy latkes sizzling for Hanukkah, Christmas parties, baking, Kwanzaa feasts: this season is full of culinary temptation. Add to that less time, more stress and more spending, and the holidays become an easy time to forget about our health.
Studies in the past 10 years have shown that the average weight Americans gain over the holidays is really only about one to two pounds, but the problem is that these are stubborn pounds that we don’t seem to lose. Unfortunately instead they accumulate year after year. It is also estimated that individuals who are already overweight will gain a seasonal three to five pounds. Year after year these relatively small gains can alter metabolism, challenge the heart and make it harder to lose extra weight as we age.
So when the season of giving becomes the season of eating, try nurturing yourself this holiday season. A few tips follow.
