That time of year is upon us (much quicker than I am ready for) and I don’t know about you guys, but this is the hardest time of year for me to make healthy decisions. Temps are dropping outside so I’m less likely to get my runs in, we have 1000 holiday parties to attend (all with unhealthy food and drinks), and the stress of making it everywhere in poor driving conditions starts to get to me.  How do we kick it? How can we stay healthy and beat this holiday season without getting sick?

Drum roll please...Guess why we all get sick around the holidays? And NO it’s not because it’s the “flu season” and we didn’t get a flu shot! It’s because we make more unhealthy choices this time of year.

-Think about what we eat around the holidays…pies, cookies, hot cocoa, mashed potatoes, stuffing,    mac n chz, broccoli cheese casserole, brownies, cakes, and my personal favorite naughty delicacy-pumpkin rolls-just to name a few. What do all those things have in common? Sugar, processed flour, and not a whole lot of good. We eat like crap around the holidays and we all could be making better choices when preparing those big family dinners. Add more vegetables to your table (and don’t put a stick of butter in with the corn and green beans, I know you do it!) When you are going to indulge in something naughty, use the 3 bite rule. Only allow yourself 3 bites of stuffing, 3 bites of dessert, and 3 bites of whatever cheesy casserole you’re crazy aunts and in laws come up with. After your 3 bites, BE DONE. Eat all the turkey, sweet potatoes (without tons of brown sugar and marshmallows), and vegetables you can fit on your plate. That way, you still get to sample a little of everything, but you aren’t consuming 5,000 calories in a single meal like most Americans do on Thanksgiving. Once your kids see you making healthier choices, they will start to follow. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your family!

-Most Michiganders aren’t supplementing with Vitamin D in the fall and winter. It is impossible for us to get adequate vitamin D from the sun in the winter in the Midwest, you just can’t do it. Add some vitamin D drops to your daily routine to make sure you immune system can function at its best during the cold months. We all are exposed to the same germs, bacteria, and viruses, but we don’t all get sick. True health comes from inside your body. Eat healthy, exercise 3-5 times a week, get adjusted, and take vitamin D. That combination is the best flu shot you can give yourself!

-Get adjusted and stay adjusted! Your nervous system needs to be checked more often when you have more stress. If trying to schedule your holiday season is anything like mine, I know you have more stress. Get yourself checked, get your kids checked, and keep your family as healthy as possible through the next few months. It’s the easiest, most effective thing you can do to ensure proper function of your body and theirs!

I’m trying to be more optimistic about the holidays this year (normally I’m the Grinch, I’ll admit it). One way you can help me enjoy it more is to take care of yourself! I know I’m going to make a conscious effort to kick the crap and load up on awesome green, orange, red, yellow, and purple veggies to make our holiday meals pretty,delicious,and healthy! Stay tuned next week for some healthy recipes to introduce to your family this holiday season! 

Yours in Health,

 Dr. B