Healthy Holiday Eating

The holidays are a time when we all feel tempted by the overflow of goodies set before us. Those who are trying to lose weight can become extremely frustrated at this time of year because it is so hard to stay on that weight loss regimen. My biggest piece of advice for those struggling with diet issues at this time of the year is to do your best and give yourself a break. If you wait all year for that coveted piece of cheesecake New Years Eve allow yourself to splurge, just do it in moderation.

It is often helpful to eat ahead of time if you know you will be going to a party with lots of tempting food you know will destroy your goals. This way you will be less tempted to load up on fattening foods and sweets and more likely to feel satisfied with the veggies and dip or the nuts and fruit. You will still likely want to indulge some in those forbidden favorites, but you will be much less likely to overdo it.

If you are the one responsible for the party keep your goals in mind and reinvent an old recipe to be a little more diet friendly or try new ideas all together. It is also often helpful to take time away from the table to enjoy your family’s togetherness. Suggest playing a game instead of sitting around the table snacking or get outside together to walk off some of that Christmas dinner and enjoy the fresh outdoors. Whatever you do remember the Holidays are always a difficult time for a diet so give yourself a break, you’ll return with vigor in January!

Migraine Headaches

Many people suffer with migraine headaches. Migraines typically affect more women than men, and more often in the 20’s and 30’s. They are generally one sided and have a pounding sensation. Some people report visual disturbances, but this is not universal. Often there is an aversion to light and sound as well as nausea and occasionally vomiting. Migraine headaches can be extremely disabling to those who suffer and there is no single known cause. They come on due to excessive dilation of blood vessels feeding the brain. Typical treatments consist of barbiturates for pain management, medication to modulate neurotransmitters known to be a problem in migraine headaches, or anti-nausea medications. Some people even resort to blood pressure medications, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure medications for relief of their symptoms. Despite all of these available treatments many people still suffer and can’t find the relief they so crave.

There are many points to consider when thinking about treatment for your migraine headaches. Many women find that their headaches are worse before menstruation when hormone levels are fluctuating the most. Changes in hormone levels can be a big factor because when the levels of steroid hormones like estrogen and progesterone drop there is an increase in levels of inflammation that can lead to a headache for many women. It is often helpful to keep track of what time of the month your headaches are the worst so that your doctor can better correlate it with a possible change in your hormone levels. An increase in stress levels can also trigger headaches as well as low blood sugar or lack of sleep. So it is important to get plenty of rest, eat a proper diet with adequate protein, drink plenty of water and manage your stress level in order to manage your headaches.

Alternative medicine has a lot to offer headache sufferers, especially those with migraines. Some common nutrient deficiencies that lead to migraines headaches are magnesium and B-vitamins. Consider some magnesium therapy, Vitamin D, B Vitamins, and anti-inflammatory treatments. Feverfew is an herb that is often helpful in the treatment of migraine headaches when it is used in an adequate dosage for a long enough period of time. Acupuncture is a useful tool to help with any type of pain condition including migraine headaches. If you suffer and would like help please give us a call today at 860-601-1318.