Trying to fit into the creation prepared before Christmas, we often fall into nervousness combined with despair. Many of us mistakenly believe that by eating nothing, we will effectively deal with unwanted pounds and swelling – remnants of unhealthy festive eating.
Hunger as a remedy for fat
It seems logical and justified – after all, each of us at least once in our life, even if only because of illness, did not eat all day, as a result of which we experienced a feeling of a lighter and flatter stomach. In fact, especially this pre-New Year’s Eve, it is not worth resorting to such radical actions – unless you want to spoil all the fun of this amazing night …
A typical fast is all-day (and sometimes, unfortunately, even several days!) fasting during which only liquids may be consumed in the form of water, weak infusions of tea and herbs or their mixtures. It is forbidden to eat solid products, while some variants of fasting allow eating certain amounts of fruit or vegetables. Even if we allow ourselves to buy such items, there is no chance that their amount will cover even the basic caloric demand.
Not necessarily a good solution
What can such action result in? First of all, what we would least like to experience during the New Year’s Eve – weakness, headache, apathy. There is a risk of hypoglycaemia, i.e. too low blood glucose and lower blood pressure. Due to the lack of a food stimulus, the intestinal peristaltic movements are weaker and consequently can lead to constipation and abdominal pain during a party.
Many people who fast before New Year’s Eve, regardless of its length, keep it until … the start of the party. Then, the choice of snacks and alcoholic beverages will surely defeat each other. Why? When we suddenly start to fill our stomach with food and drink after a fast, we will first feel a great deal of discomfort, if not pain, in it. Digestion will be very inefficient because the digestive tract takes time to produce enzymes and even stimulate peristaltic movements. This can result in flatulence and similar ailments from the digestive system.
It is also worth remembering that the organism subjected to forced cut off from nutritional resources will try to compensate for its deficiencies and catch up too much. As compensation not only will you eat more at the New Year’s Eve party itself, you will also increase the risk of the yo-yo effect (excessive sudden jump in weight) in the near future.
(Not very) exhilarating fun
Let’s add alcohol to it. Depending on the type of drink, it may be easier or more difficult to digest and metabolize. On the other hand, taking it on an empty stomach (and, incidentally, an unfilled rest of the digestive tract) will result in a very sudden and amplified blast of bubbles to the head. And you don’t want your fellow diners to remember you as the first person who didn’t make it to the New Year countdown?
So what to do to feel light at the New Year’s Eve party? After Christmas, stick to these few rules scrupulously, and no hunger strike will be necessary to fit into a beautiful outfit:
• Eat 5-6 small meals a day, preferably every 2-3 hours.
• Drink plenty of water and green tea – 2-2,5 liters of fluid a day is recommended. In addition, green tea has a detoxifying effect and contributes to a higher metabolic rate. This is mainly due to the compounds contained in tea – catechins, which affect the oxidation of fats and the use of glucose.
• Eat high-fiber products – replace white bread with wholemeal bread, choose thick groats and whole grain pasta and flour.
• Eat at least 400-600 grams of vegetables and fruit every day.
• Give up frying products and preparing them with a large addition of fat. Steam or a little water, stew, grill and bake in the oven, enriching the dish with a teaspoon or tablespoon of oil / olive oil.
• Exclude sweets, alcohol and highly processed foods from your menu.
• Increase the amount of physical activity – exercise for 30-60 minutes every day.
• Enjoy the New Years Eve party, after all, it only happens once a year!
Bibliography:
Huang J. et al.: The anti-obesity effects of green tea in human intervention and basic molecular studies. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014; 68(10): 1075-1087.
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