It gets a bad wrap as the Most Unhealthiest Time of the Year, but that's not actually true
1. Mulled wine boosts your workouts
The English Institute of Sport, which provides scientific guidance to the British Olympic squad, found spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves can help you recover faster after exercise. Why? They're rich in antioxidants, which help to reduce muscle soreness after a training session.
2. Red wine is good for your immune system
Research shows those who drink several glasses of red wine a week had 40% less chance of getting winter sniffles than those who abstained completely because the flavonoids fight nasal viruses – if that doesn't have you making merry this yuletide, we don't know what will.
3. Shopping helps you live longer
But surprisingly not because of the pavement pounding or lugging heavy bags around: according to a Taiwanese study, the social aspect makes it beneficial. Apparently a spot of people-watching staves off loneliness and boosts psychological health.
4. Christmas lunch is packed with goodness
While eating your bodyweight in roast potatoes isn't healthy, when you look at the components of a Christmas dinner it's about as wholesome as a meal gets. That smoked salmon starter will give you a truckload of essential fatty acids – the healthy fats that stimulate your metabolism. Turkey is low in fat and high in protein, and it's also rich in tryptophan, the protein your brain needs to produce the happiness hormone serotonin. Just go easy on the fat-laden skin. Meanwhile, despite their rather anti-social reputation, one portion of sprouts contains 300% of the RDA of cancer-protective vitamin K. And all that Christmas veg makes clocking up your five-a-day a cinch.
5. Partying makes you happy
Navigating your December diary might be a headache, but the party season gives you major wellbeing bonus points. A US study showed we reach our optimum happiness levels when socialising with friends and family for six hours: hello Christmas Day!
6. Giving is good for you
An American study looked at the areas of the brain that light up when we give and receive and found that when receiving a gift, the brain releases the feel-good chemical dopamine. But when giving, the brain still releases dopamine AND the 'cuddle hormone' oxytocin – proof that there's more pleasure associated with giving a great gift than receiving one.
7. Table time stops mindless munching
Christmas lunch is one meal where we're absolutely guaranteed to sit around a table as a family – and countless studies have shown that sitting down and taking time over food means we make more nutritious choices and avoid mindless overeating.
8. Christmas TV boosts your immunity
We are about to give you permission to lounge on the sofa all day watching Elf guilt-free: day-to-day stress can reduce your infection-fighting prowess by up to 40%, triggering, among other things, IBS and migraines. If you're relaxing and laughing, those health benefits are magnified even further. A belly laugh lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, reduces stress and boosts your immune system by 40%, says a US study.
9. Quality Street can stop you overeating
Countless studies have found depriving yourself of treats can be counter-productive as feeling guilty can trigger over-eating. And it's also worth remembering this: "No one food is inherently good or bad; it's the mix that counts," says nutritionist Rebecca Amey. "As long as you eat your five-a-day, plus protein and carbohydrates, occasional treats won't damage your health."
1. Mulled wine boosts your workouts
The English Institute of Sport, which provides scientific guidance to the British Olympic squad, found spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves can help you recover faster after exercise. Why? They're rich in antioxidants, which help to reduce muscle soreness after a training session.
2. Red wine is good for your immune system
Research shows those who drink several glasses of red wine a week had 40% less chance of getting winter sniffles than those who abstained completely because the flavonoids fight nasal viruses – if that doesn't have you making merry this yuletide, we don't know what will.
3. Shopping helps you live longer
But surprisingly not because of the pavement pounding or lugging heavy bags around: according to a Taiwanese study, the social aspect makes it beneficial. Apparently a spot of people-watching staves off loneliness and boosts psychological health.
4. Christmas lunch is packed with goodness
While eating your bodyweight in roast potatoes isn't healthy, when you look at the components of a Christmas dinner it's about as wholesome as a meal gets. That smoked salmon starter will give you a truckload of essential fatty acids – the healthy fats that stimulate your metabolism. Turkey is low in fat and high in protein, and it's also rich in tryptophan, the protein your brain needs to produce the happiness hormone serotonin. Just go easy on the fat-laden skin. Meanwhile, despite their rather anti-social reputation, one portion of sprouts contains 300% of the RDA of cancer-protective vitamin K. And all that Christmas veg makes clocking up your five-a-day a cinch.
5. Partying makes you happy
Navigating your December diary might be a headache, but the party season gives you major wellbeing bonus points. A US study showed we reach our optimum happiness levels when socialising with friends and family for six hours: hello Christmas Day!
6. Giving is good for you
An American study looked at the areas of the brain that light up when we give and receive and found that when receiving a gift, the brain releases the feel-good chemical dopamine. But when giving, the brain still releases dopamine AND the 'cuddle hormone' oxytocin – proof that there's more pleasure associated with giving a great gift than receiving one.
7. Table time stops mindless munching
Christmas lunch is one meal where we're absolutely guaranteed to sit around a table as a family – and countless studies have shown that sitting down and taking time over food means we make more nutritious choices and avoid mindless overeating.
8. Christmas TV boosts your immunity
We are about to give you permission to lounge on the sofa all day watching Elf guilt-free: day-to-day stress can reduce your infection-fighting prowess by up to 40%, triggering, among other things, IBS and migraines. If you're relaxing and laughing, those health benefits are magnified even further. A belly laugh lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, reduces stress and boosts your immune system by 40%, says a US study.
9. Quality Street can stop you overeating
Countless studies have found depriving yourself of treats can be counter-productive as feeling guilty can trigger over-eating. And it's also worth remembering this: "No one food is inherently good or bad; it's the mix that counts," says nutritionist Rebecca Amey. "As long as you eat your five-a-day, plus protein and carbohydrates, occasional treats won't damage your health."
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