Surviving Christmas

Eating unfamiliar seasonal foods can lead to bloating, as your digestive system is `challenged'. Plan ahead - for instance, if you have wheat sensitivity, stuff the turkey with brown rice, pine nut and herb mixture, and choose one of the excellent wheat-free Christmas puddings that are available.

• Remember to keep up water intake to ward off dehydration. Water is needed to keep the digestive system working properly and also helps moisten winter skin. Drink 1.5 litres a day. Sparkling water and other carbonated drinks make some people feel bloated and, if this is the case, stick to still water and fresh juices.
• Try some natural aids for indigestion, such as peppermint tea. Slippery elm calms a stressed digestive tract, and artichoke supplements reduce bloating and nausea which result from overindulgence.

Stay stress-free

The frenzy of Christmas - office parties, presents buying, food preparation, pleasing all the family and financial pressures - can lead to frazzled nerves and stop us enjoying what is meant to be a time of closeness with those we love. Yet, depression over the Christmas period is a real danger for many people. Some are affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder), domestic problems are often highlighted by being at close quarters for long periods, and indulging in alcohol can be a catalyst for mood swings.

• Exercise is a terrific way to increase mood-enhancing endorphins to banish the blues. If you are feeling sluggish, tired and unmotivated, wrap up warm and go out for a brisk half-hour walk. Being outside during daylight also benefits those who feel gloomy in winter.
• Boosting levels of the calming brain chemical serotonin can be helped by eating turkey and other seasonal poultry, such as pheasant, which are particularly high in tryptophan from which serotonin is made. Other calming foods include porridge oats, milky (but not sugary) drinks and bananas.