How to have a healthy Christmas

Tips for 'healthier' drinking

• Red wine is the drink of choice this season, but any benefits of red wine diminish after a couple of glasses, so don't overdo it.
• Choose organic drinks when possible, as they have less additives/chemicals, which can cause headaches for some people.
• Remember that while vodka is the purest alcohol, it's still a toxin.
• Choose pure fruit juice, soda or mineral water as mixers, keeping away from the sugary, sweetened options.
• Don't let others constantly top up your glass. Refill it only when you've emptied your glass, so you can keep a check on how much you drink.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water to help prevent dehydration and a hangover the following day.
• Don't feel pressured into drinking if you really don't want to. Avoid it altogether when driving, as bad weather and other drivers are more of a danger during the holidays.
• Sparkling water with ice and a slice or a Virgin Mary are good substitutes for an alcoholic drink, especially if you don't want to be seen as a party-pooper.
• Avoid alcopops; they're heavy on sugar, sweeteners and additives and are easy to guzzle in large volumes.

How to stay feeling fresh
Late nights, alcohol, smoky atmospheres and rich foods can take their toll on the way we look and feel.

If you've had a particularly heavy night, try to take it easier the next day. Have lighter foods, increase your water and fresh vegetable intake and stick to lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey (no short supply at this time) and fish.

Try to:

• Have breakfast, no matter how small - a piece of fruit, wholemeal cereal, or beans or scrambled eggs on toast.
• Have juices containing carrot, apple, beetroot, parsley, spinach and ginger to aid detoxification and provide the body with nutrients, especially vitamin C.
• Include herbs teas, they can help settle the stomach: camomile, peppermint, ginger, fennel or green tea.