Don't Forget About Your Health While Celebrating the Holidays

Thursday, December 19, 2002

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The holidays are undoubtedly a festive time with family and friends. But they can also take a toll on your health. Fatty, salty and high-calorie foods are everywhere. The many things to do to prepare for the holidays can bring on a considerable amount of stress and unhealthy habits. Visit MayoClinic.com for helpful tips to help keep your holiday season healthy and happy.

Diet

Holiday meals and celebrations can test even the strongest willpower. Learn ways to eat healthy this holiday season without sacrificing taste or your traditions. The key is to be sensible and use moderation.

"Trying to completely avoid those less-than-healthy foods can lead to a deprived feeling, and then you may indulge to an extreme," says Mark Glen, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic. "Indulging a little bit is okay, but it's still important to be ever mindful of your food choices. This is true at holiday time, but it's also true throughout the rest of the year." MayoClinic.com provides tips for making healthy-eating decisions during the holidays such as vegetarian options, low-salt meal alternatives and eating for two during the holidays.

Family

Traditionally, the holiday season is a joyous time to gather with family and friends. But for some, this can be a stressful or painful time. This is especially true for people who have lost loved ones, have family members suffering from Alzheimer's disease or are facing a battle with cancer. MayoClinic.com provides tips for coping if you've lost a loved one, shares a personal story of someone facing cancer, and offers suggestions on how to make this time more enjoyable when dealing with Alzheimer's disease.

Gift giving

Never know what gifts to get or find yourself wishing that your gift could do more than just entertain? Some gifts can challenge the mind and may even enhance longevity. MayoClinic.com provides suggestions on easy-to-find gifts that will do double duty by entertaining and stimulating the mind. Such as:

* Puzzle mania — Crosswords and jigsaws keep the mind sharp.

* Get artsy — Crafts, painting and pottery are artsy hobbies many enjoy even if they have limited aptitude for fine arts.

* Games people play — Board games can challenge the mind in new and entertaining ways.

MayoClinic.com is a source of reliable health information on topics from cancer to quitting smoking, healthy traveling and first aid. This site is produced as part of Mayo Clinic's commitment to serve as a dependable source of health information for the public.

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Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email:newsbureau@mayo.edu

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To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.