The Christmas period is one of love, fun and good cheer. Big family dinners, work parties, New Year’s celebrations and general indulgence is what makes Christmas the best time of the year.

Unfortunately, the combination of all these good times can have a few less enjoyable outcomes. Weight gain, hangovers, bloating, little sleep and a reduced immune system are all common complaints post silly season.

In order to combat these unwanted consequences this festive season, Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse’s leading naturopath Michael Jeffery has developed a list of all natural supplements that can be added to your everyday diet to assist in improving your body’s health and functionality, and keep you happy, healthy and keen for every social event you’re scheduled to attend this Christmas.

1)      Fish Oil tablets to boost metabolism

Fish oil tablets are proven to have a wide range of positive effects on the body, from reducing risk of heart disease to assisting in brain development to reducing the effects of arthritis.

The Christmas period is notoriously one of over eating and drinking, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain often a contributor to heart disease, diabetes and a plethora of other health problems.

Taking fish oil contributes to your metabolism processing food at an optimum rate which assists with weight loss and in turn reduces the risk of heart disease.

2)      Take Milk Thistle to improve liver function

One of the most enjoyable parts of Christmas is sharing a few drinks with family or friends. Sadly, excessive drinking is also a good way of developing liver disease.

Making sure your liver is working at its optimum level will mean that alcohol is processed as efficiently as possible and your body can recover quickly.  Milk Thistle has long been recognised as an herbal supplement that detoxifies and protects vital liver functions.

It works by blocking harmful toxins from the liver, and helping remove these toxins. It also helps by accelerating the regeneration of damaged liver tissue.

Another good way to protect your liver is to avoid taking paracetamol or acetaminophen (Tylenol) while or after drinking alcohol.

These medicines are processed by the liver, and after alcohol it is under enough pressure without adding further work for it to do. If you really need painkillers stick with Ibuprofen.

3)      Lower your blood pressure with Spirulina

Spirulina is often touted as the most complete food source in the world, containing over 100 different nutrients.

Made from blue green algae, Spirulina has been shown to regulate blood pressure in both men and women aged 18-65.

This can minimise the risk of heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease outcomes we all want to avoid, especially throughout the not as healthy holiday season.

Spirulina is also very high in protein, so is a fantastic option for vegetarians and vegans who are looking for alternative ways to subsidise their protein intake without meat.

4)      Give caffeine the boot – try Maca Powder!

With a month of back-to-back events coming up, there are definitely going to be some mornings you need a little bit of help getting ready to face the day.

Many people would head straight to the coffee machine or to an energy drink, both of which use caffeine for an energy boost.

However high caffeine consumption can have a host of negative side effects, including nervousness, irritability, insomnia, an upset stomach, muscle tremors, and an irregular heartbeat.

As well as this, it can cause short term blood pressure spikes, making it potentially dangerous for people with high blood pressure.

Instead of your morning coffee, or 3pm energy drink, try including Maca Powder into your diet.

Maca powder is a ground up root that is well known for its health benefits, in particular an increase in energy levels and stamina.

Just half a teaspoon day mixed in with a smoothie or juice or over cereal can provide you with the energy to get through the late nights and early mornings the festive season brings.

5)      Strengthen your immune system with Vitamin A and D

Late nights, excessive alcohol, an indulgent diet and contact with every member of your extended family are all key contributors to a worn down immune system, which can lead to any number of illnesses.

The last thing you want is to get sick on your holidays, so this Christmas make sure you protect your immune system by getting enough essential vitamins.

While most vitamins can be linked to improved immunity, vitamins A and D are key contributors in staving off illness and infection.

The best ways to get these vitamins is naturally, through foods like sweet potato, carrots, green leafy vegetables, mango and tuna and through 20-25 minutes of exposure to sunlight a day. Otherwise, vitamin supplements can also help make up for any deficiencies in your diet.

We would recommend a multi-vitamin that contains 100% of the RDI (recommended daily intake) of the included vitamins – any more than that is a waste.

Happy Holidays!

This article is courtesy of Australian Naturopath, Michael Jeffrey. These solutions are not substitutes for healthy eating, drinking and regular physical activity, but hopefully will help you get through the next couple of months of indulgence with minimal undesirable health effects. As with any medication, you should seek expert advice first. A pharmacist can talk you through the options and should you experience any negative side effects to any of these supplements, cease use and see a health care professional.

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