5 top tips to care for your body this festive season
Published
The festive period is a magical time of year, and a time for making memories with family and friends by enjoying festive dinners, drinks and having a merry time! That said, we all know it is also a time of overindulgence in every sense of the word: we all eat, drink and spend perhaps a little too much.
It's no surprise then, that we all begin the New Year with the ‘New Year New Me’ mindset, when we try to restore our bodies with New Year resolutions and forming new habits…. However, wouldn’t it be much better for our minds and bodies to take time to relax, find moments of calm and take care of ourselves during the festive period, to alleviate some of that pressure we all feel in the New Year?
So, if you’re finding that all the extravagances of the festive period are beginning to take a toll on your body, Pukka Herbs’ herbal expert, Saf Hareshe, has shared her 5 top tips on how to properly care for yourself this winter.
1. Stay active
Perhaps a seemingly obvious tip, remembering to stay active during the festive season is actually so important for both your physical health and mental health, but easily forgotten. This can be as simple as daily walks (preferably during daylight hours if possible) or perhaps some grounding yoga to connect your body to your mind and keep you feeling rooted during these busier times.
2. Switch out your classic sweets
The festive period is a peak time for sweet treats. Too much sugar can have undesirable effects on our energy, mood and focus in the short term and have effects such as tooth decay and contribute to other health problems in the long term.
If you’re looking to try to reduce your consumption of festive sweet treats while satisfying a sugar craving, cinnamon is the spice for you! It is a versatile spice that can be used in a wide range of recipes to help reduce sugar cravings. It is known to help balance blood sugar levels, and where sugar can cause tooth decay, cinnamon has anti-microbial properties and is reputed to improve gum health.
Cinnamon is one key ingredient in Pukka’s brand-new organic festive tea, Winter Warmer, making it the perfect treat to be enjoyed snuggled on the sofa.
3. Be kind to your digestion system
There is no denying that our digestive systems have a lot more to deal with over the festive period than usual, as traditional festive meals are often larger and much richer. This often leads to undesirable effects on our tummies such as bloating or constipation, so it’s vital we look after our digestive systems during these times so that we can continue to enjoy the festive cheer.
Ginger has long been regarded as a herb to aid digestion. With its fiery flavour, it’s a perfect aid to stoke your inner digestive fire, supporting its function as well as helping with cramping and bloating. Ginger is another key ingredient and delicious flavour in Pukka’s Winter Warmer tea, as well as the Three Ginger tea, making them the ideal blends post meal to uplift and comfort.
4. Switch out alcohol
From festive cocktails to champagne, alcoholic drinks are everywhere this time of year. Drinking large amounts of alcohol over a sustained period has negative effects on the body. Pukka’s Winter Warmer makes an excellent alternative to the classic drinks of mulled wine, for example, with its festive flavours of cinnamon, star anise and clove. Try the Pukka Winter Warmer Virgin Mulled Cider for an alcohol-free drink this season:
❖ 5 Pukka Winter Warmer tea bags
❖ 750ml Apple juice
❖ 1 Lemon
❖ 2 Oranges
❖ 3 tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup to taste
❖ 20 Cloves
❖ 1 Nutmeg
Method:
1. Pour your apple juice into a large saucepan
2. Add the sliced lemon to the juice
3. Cut two oranges in half and press cloves into the skin before adding to the pan
4. Add five tea bags of Pukka’s Winter Warmer to the pan along with some grated nutmeg
5. Warm the mixture gently making sure that it does not boil
6. Add three tbsp of brown sugar or maple syrup and gently heat for 15 minutes
7. Ladle into four glasses and say cheers to the festive season!
5. Remember it’s OK to say no
During the festive season it can be hard not to overextend ourselves, as we try to take in every moment during the season. However, it is really valuable to remind yourself that you don't have to go to every party, dinner or gathering over the festive period, and instead allow your body and mind time to reset.
Pukka’s range of calming teas are the perfect way to reset and have a cup of self-care, encouraging you to find a moment of mindfulness within your day. The simple ritual of making a cup of tea is a great way to practice mindfulness and be aware of the present while letting worries go for a moment.
Pukka’s calming teas (Three Chamomile, Peace, Relax, and Chamomile, Vanilla & Manuka Honey) contain organic, fairly sourced, highest-quality herbs herbs, such as chamomile, lavender and ashwagandha, all of which are proven to have a relaxing effect on the body and mind.
