Holidays are expected to be a joyous, festive time filled with laughter and cheer, and for the most part, they are. However, Functional Medicine Los Angeles experts noted that the holidays can provide a lot of obstacles, particularly for people suffering from an eating or substance use disorder.
Losing weight during the holiday season isn’t always about not exercising, but dealing with cravings. You may associate Christmas with chocolate Santas, pumpkin pie, and the big holiday ham. If you are really struggling with your cravings, here are some useful tips from functional medicine Beverly Hills that can help.
Drink Less Caffeine and Alcohol
Many people like to enjoy their coffee in the morning during the winter, but the problem with this is that caffeine tends to be connected to sugar cravings. When you have caffeine in your system, it then starts to crave more of that same boost in energy, which often leads you to want sugary treats. Here at Functional Medicine Burbank, we always tell our clients that giving up or cutting back on caffeine during the holidays is a smart idea if they struggle a lot with cravings. The same is true of alcohol, which fuels increased sugar cravings and binges on sweets.
Drink More Water
Functional Medicine Sherman Oaks recommends switching to water instead of soda, coffee, wine, and alcoholic beverages. Flavor the water if you need to, such as infusing the water with cranberries and oranges for seasonal water, or just adding some lemon slices to each glass. This makes it feel like you are having a flavored drink, but all you are drinking is clean water with some healthy fruit juice inside. Water makes you feel full, takes away cravings, and the fruit can help with the sweet tooth as well.
Fulfill Your Sugar Cravings in Healthy Ways
There are healthier ways to fulfill those sugar cravings when not having anything isn’t working out for you. If everyone around you is eating fudge and cookies, and the sugar cravings are too strong, try eating some fruit, according to Functional Medicine Studio City. The fruit has natural sugars that aren’t bad for you, but definitely help to fulfill your craving for something sweet. To make it more like a dessert, dip fruit in melted dark chocolate for a little sweet treat, or try adding some homemade whipped topping on top of the fruit. You can also drizzle it with honey, which is still far less fattening than other Christmas treats.
Find Other Things to Occupy Your Mind
You can also find some other activities that take you away from your cravings when they are hard to battle. If you don’t want to overeat during the Christmas season, find somewhere else to go away from the food or treats and write in a journal or go for a walk. This can help boost your mood and take your mind off the food you are craving.
Take the journey toward better health. Get in touch by dialing 818-505-9511 or visiting 10645 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, California 91602.