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Tag: Christmas

Ways to ward off the festive blues

November 16th, 2023 by The Hello Doctor Team

The festive season comes with so many expectations – magical moments, picture-perfect family time – that we could easily neglect our emotional health as we try to live up to them.

Surrounded by tinsel, lights, family and festive cheer, it’s hard for some to imagine that anyone could feel lonely. Sadly, in the midst of this magical time, many people suffer their greatest periods of sadness and isolation. In fact, psychologists theorise that it is precisely the emphasis on family and togetherness, paired with the extended time off from work, that highlights feelings of loneliness.

Clinical psychologist Roz Veitch explains that, for most of the year, we may be able to distract ourselves with work or visits to friends, but with everyone focused on their own families during the festive period, a sense of loneliness may hit home. Past trauma around the holidays or the pressure to have a perfect festive season may escalate already fragile mental health.

What can you do if you are feeling isolated, lonely or depressed at this time of year?

Plan ahead

“People should look at how they felt over the festive season in previous years and aim to plan ahead. For instance, if being alone in your home feels bad, why not reach out to friends or colleagues who may be in a similar position and plan something together?” says Veitch.

She stresses that the solutions will be different for each person, but that looking at past experiences may offer some clues as to how you will feel, and what you can do to avoid it this year.

Change the story in your head

Feelings of isolation are often magnified by dwelling on them. Try not to spend time laser focused on the things you are missing out on, but rather think about what you can achieve.

“Why not imagine it as a time for spoiling yourself? Run a bubble bath, make a delicious meal, go for a walk in a park, watch your favourite movie and reflect on the successes of the past year?” suggests Veitch. “Having a whole day to ourselves is so rare that it’s possible you may start looking forward to the opportunity.”

Don’t drink alcohol

Having a drink may feel like a solution, but once you come down, it will only heighten the feelings of depression. This happens because alcohol is a depressant that alters the chemical balance in your brain, leading you to feel more alone than ever before.

Volunteer to help others

It’s important to realise that you are not actually alone: many other people are also struggling during the holidays. Offering to volunteer with charities or religious organisations that are geared towards helping people at Christmas can give your day both focus and purpose.

“It can be incredibly life-affirming to help others, which – together with the sense of community that comes from assisting others in need – is often enough to lift people out of their dark places,” says Veitch.

Reach out

Just letting someone know how you are feeling can be a great relief. Tell those around you that you will be alone over the holidays and try to schedule a phone call with a friend or family member to give you something to look forward to. If that isn’t an option, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group can help with a counsellor’s contact details.

References

30 Healthy Christmas Recipes

November 16th, 2023 by The Hello Doctor Team

‘Tis the season for good food, spending time with loved ones and creating wonderful, lasting memories. You don’t have to forgo your seasonal delights though. Just make sure you eat healthy the rest of the time, avoid skipping meals to ‘make space’ for a big festive lunch or dinner, and stick to small portions of the treats. Here are 30 healthy Christmas recipe ideas perfect for this magical holiday.

Remember to get moving by taking walks or playing indoor or outdoor games.

Sign up for a stress-free festive season

November 22nd, 2022 by The Hello Doctor Team

This is a wonderful time to be with family, have a break, and enjoy tasty food and good company. But somehow things often end up less jolly and more ‘just-let-it-be-January.’

Why is this time of year so often accompanied by skyrocketing stress, anxiety and exhaustion? For one, we can feel overwhelmed with the extra social engagements. Plus, at big gatherings we might have to face people with whom we don’t necessarily see ‘eye-to-eye.’ It’s also easy to overindulge and spend money as if we’ve won the lottery (knowing full well our accounts are redder than Rudolph the Reindeer’s nose).

If you’re wondering how to have a great year-end without all this angst, read on.

Be best friends with boundaries 

The festive season is a time of giving, but sometimes we give so much (time, energy, money) that we can no longer look after ourselves. Feel like you have to partake in all the family events or get gifts for everyone? Worried about being saddled with all the meal prep? Setting boundaries will help you navigate these stressful situations.

In a nutshell, says American research professor and author of Dare to Lead, BrenĂŠ Brown, “A ‘boundary’ is simply what’s ok and what’s not ok.” And that’s something you decide for yourself. Identify what’s important to you over the festive season and what your limits are, then set boundaries from there. Work out in advance what you are comfortable with in terms of:

  • Where you spend your time
  • Who and what you prioritise
  • How much money you spend
  • What and how much you eat and drink
  • Which holiday traditions you keep

It’s important to let go of guilt. Remember, having boundaries doesn’t mean that you don’t care about others. Healthy boundaries enable you to care for others and yourself.

Defuse festive season stress further with these strategies:

  1. Gift wisely. Festive gifting sounds fun but can be emotionally draining and cause serious financial strain. Does everyone really need an individual gift? A way around this is for each person to draw one name and buy only that person a gift of a certain value. Parents could club together to get teachers gift vouchers, while families could buy gifts for the children only. Try a gift-list app to help you keep track of spending, like Christmas Gift List Tracker for iPhone or Christmas Gift List for Android.
  2. Jingle all the way (to the bank). Hosting a fancy dinner, splurging on a holiday, a night on the town or a shopping spree can make a dent in your financial freedom. Set a budget before you get sucked into all the holly jolly. Find ways to stick to your budget. For example, rather than catering the get-together in full, ask everyone to bring a dish and drinks. Take your evening-out budget in cash and, once that’s spent, it’s time to go home.
  3. ’Tis the season to be healthy. The temptation to overindulge is real. But you don’t have to forgo your seasonal delights – just make sure the rest of what you eat that day is healthy. Avoid skipping meals “to make up for the splurge” and stick to small portions of the treats. Leave the sherry for Santa and choose refreshing mocktails. And get moving with a walk on the beach or a game of frisbee. There’s a strong link between exercise and stress reduction.
  4. Be summer safe. With our year-end weather being sunny side up, it’s important to take steps so you don’t end up with heat exhaustion or even permanent skin damage. Keep hydrated (with water, that is – alcohol makes you more dehydrated) and follow the Australian slogan of “Slip-Slop-Slap”: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat. Avoid the sun at the hottest times of the day (10h00–15h00).

So, set those boundaries and stick to them – it’s the best gift you can give yourself and everyone around you.

Quiz: Check your festive season stress levels

References

Banting Christmas lunch

December 14th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

If this is your first holiday as a banter, or you’re having LCHF guests over for Christmas lunch, you might be wondering where to begin. Here are some suggestions on how to make it a fabulous and stress-free day.

When it comes to LCHF, it’s all in the name – low carbs and high fat means much less starch and more proteins and healthy fats. For traditional holiday fare, this means no floury gravies and stuffing, or sugary cakes and desserts. Your roasted chicken or turkey is great for banting, simply replace a bread-based stuffing with sausage-based one. When it comes to gammon, avoid recipes that include sugar-rich glazes, and substitute roast potatoes with sweet potatoes. We’ve included a delicious broccoli and cauliflower bake recipe as a side-dish option.

What’s for Dessert?

To make sure your banters don’t feel short-changed after the main course, put together a fruit, nut and cheese-board that you can keep chilled and serve after lunch – you’ll probably find non-banters treating themselves to these goodies. For your cheese-board, think of including any combination of the following:

  • Any full-cream cheese: Brie, Camembert, Edam, blue cheeses – whatever is to your taste.
  • Fresh fruits that stay firm and don’t colour: blueberries, cherries, strawberries, figs, raspberries, gooseberries, watermelon cubes, and kiwi fruit slices.
  • Nuts, such as toasted almonds and cashews.
  • You can include a bowl of delicious full-cream yoghurt or cream flavoured with some fresh vanilla and a little honey.

Bon appetite!

Don’t let the holidays get you down

December 24th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Not everyone feels happy and festive during Christmas season. We get that. The holidays can be hard. For those without big families or a bustling social life, days stretching on endlessly can make you want to curl up into a ball and just sleep away the season.

We’re not saying you need to be the life of the party. But you can enjoy the holidays with a few small adjustments to suit your state of mind.

Plan a small activity every other day

The thought of filling up your calendar chock full of parties can be overwhelming. No need for that. The American Heart Association says that doing things you enjoy is a natural stress-buster. Spend a day at home just puttering about, but the next day, get into your car and go for a drive. Or take yourself off to a local park and wile away a few hours reading under a tree. Being out in public and amongst others will do a lot to boost your morale. Alternate your days this way so it doesn’t feel all too much.

Tick off a major task

Maybe you’ve always wanted to paint your bedroom. Well what better time than now? The manual labour and fairly involving task will occupy your mind and body. Pick out paint samples, grapple with a paintbrush, and browse online for interesting themes and motifs. This absorbing task could actually grow into your festive season project and before you know it, you have a beautiful new room at the end of your holiday break.

Get your priorities straight

Meeting those year-end deadlines, planning the perfect holiday, catching up with your friends… the pressures of trying to do everything over the holidays is enough to send anyone into a tailspin. And, if you’re prone to depression, this added stress can take its toll on your mood. Instead of trying to do it all, set realistic goals about what you can and cannot do. Keep your expectations reasonable. Spread the joy out over the holiday season rather than placing the importance on one specific day or event. Most importantly, learn to say no. In doing so, you’re less likely to become overwhelmed.

Feel your feelings

More and more, experts are advising the importance of feeling what you feel. The great philosopher Robert Frost famously said, “The only way out is through.” Apply this idea to your state of mind. Don’t run away from your feelings, don’t bury it under junk food or alcohol or other vices – feel what you feel, let it all out in whatever shape or form it comes. This could mean crying your heart out for an hour. Let it out and then go about your day. This is where the “distraction” comes in – think of that vent session as having ticked something off your list. Now you can go read a book, take a walk, or talk to a friend.

Hurting? Help someone else

Your feelings and state of mind are important. You feel the way you feel for many reasons. But nothing puts your own wellbeing more into perspective than helping someone else. Spare a thought for others who are going through the same. Maybe you’ve wanted to volunteer at a soup kitchen all year. Well, now’s the time! Or take the time to go read with the elderly. Research shows that pets and animals in particular can do a lot to bring peace and calm to a depressive state. Head on over to your local SPCA and spend a day with some furry friends.

If you’re worried that you might be suffering from depression, why not chat to our doctors? They are ready with advice you can trust!

References:

Guilt-free Christmas pudding

December 21st, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

This time of year we all have more than one occasion where we eat a bit more than usual. Christmas is one of those events, and if you’re trying to watch what you eat then you may dread the thought of a sweet, rich, creamy pudding on the menu. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be the case this Christmas, and there are so many other options to choose from. Seasonal fruit, for example, as the base of a pudding is a fabulous option.

This is a delicious dessert, and most people who have tasted it can’t believe how flavourful such a basic combination of ingredients can be. Peaches aren’t only a perfect summer snack, but also great to use in a dessert. They’re low in fat, cholesterol and sodium, and packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Like most other fruit, the natural fibre aids digestion, and combined with the spices, it’s full of goodness. Ricotta is a versatile, low-fat cheese and gives the sense of a creamy ingredient, but is much lower in fat. The nuts give some crunch to the dessert and add to the good fats. So go ahead and enjoy a portion of this guilt free festive dessert.

Pan-Fried Ricotta Peaches

So many delicious fruits are available at this time of year so make them part of your summer desserts this festive season.

Ingredients

  • 50 g flaked almonds
  • 6-8 firm, ripe cling peaches, halved and pitted
  • 30 ml (2 tablespoons) butter
  • 60 ml (Âź cup) honey
  • 7.5 ml (½ tablespoons) ground mixed spice or cinnamon
  • 50 ml orange juice
  • 250 g ricotta cheese
  • Edible flowers to garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat and dry fry almonds until lightly toasted. Spoon out and set aside.
  2. In the same pan, fry peaches, cut side down until light golden brown and toasted. If you are worried that they may stick, fry in a small amount of the butter.
  3. Reduce the heat and add remaining butter, honey, mixed spice and orange juice. Mix well and spoon over peaches.
  4. Allow to simmer with a lid for 2-3 minutes or until the peaches are softened slightly and heated through.
  5. Spoon out and place spoonfuls of ricotta in each peach half. Drizzle with pan juices, sprinkle with almonds and serve immediately. Garnish with edible flowers, if preferred.

Top Tip: You can substitute peaches with nectarines if you prefer, just make sure you choose ripe but firm fruit.

Serves 6 – 8

(Recipe: Food Consultant, Heleen Meyer)

3 easy Christmas treat recipes

December 20th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

What’s Christmas without a tasty treat… or three? But wait; before you go overboard at the buffet, we have a few healthy alternatives.

Sugar-free raspberry sorbet

Ingredients

  • 6 cups frozen raspberries
  • 3 overripe bananas, cut into 1cm pieces, frozen
  • 60g fresh raspberries, roughly crushed

Method

  • In 3 batches, blend the frozen raspberries and bananas until smooth.
  • Transfer each batch into one large bowl, then stir through the crushed raspberries.
  • Spoon into a 1.25L container.
  • Serve immediately.

Gluten-free Christmas cake

Ingredients

  • 100g margarine
  • 1 large ripe banana
  • 2 large lemons, finely grated (rind and juice only)
  • 100g soft prunes, stoned and halved
  • 75g raisins
  • 75g sultanas
  • 75g currants
  • 150g soft dried apricots, chopped into large pieces
  • 50g mixed peel (a mixture of orange and lemon peel)
  • 75g walnuts, halved and 25g hazelnuts chopped OR 75g large pumpkin seeds and 25g sunflower seeds
  • 2 eggs (or 2 level tsps gluten-free baking powder to make an egg-free cake)
  • 75g coarse polenta and 75g rice flour and 1 level tsp xanthan gum OR 150g gluten-free flour that already includes xanthan gum
  • 2 heaped tsps ground nutmeg
  • 1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 heaped tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 2 tbsps brandy (optional)

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 160 degrees.
  • In a food processor, beat the margarine with the banana and the lemon juice and rind. Pour into a bowl.
  • Mix in the dried fruit and nuts or seeds.
  • Beat the eggs (if you’re using them).
  • Sieve the flours with the baking powder (if you’re substituting it for the eggs) and the spices.
  • Fold the eggs (if you’re using them) into the fruit mixture alternately with the flours. Add a little brandy if you’d like.
  • Line a 20cm cake tin with greased greaseproof paper. Spoon in the mixture and level off the top.
  • Bake for about two hours or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Remove from the tin and cool on a rack.
  • Eat as it is, or store to be iced for Christmas. You can also decorate this cake with whole nuts like almonds. 

Dairy-free ginger turmeric cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sweetener
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 heaped tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/8 tsp or more black pepper
  • Âź tsp sea salt
  • Âź tsp baking soda

Method

  • Place the coconut butter, egg and vanilla in a food processor and combine.
  • Add in the sweetener, baking soda and all the spices. Blend until it’s all thoroughly mixed.
  • Form the dough into balls and place on a baking paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Press each cookie down with your palm.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • These cookies are fragile when warm, so let them cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet. Remove and let them cool completely on a cooling rack. They will harden up as they cool.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Reference:

Six stress-free holiday hacks to give you peace of mind

December 18th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Tis’ the season of delicious food, relaxation and bonding with your loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also the season of dealing with your grumpy uncle’s complaints about your cooking, trying to make your budget stretch and cleaning up after many people. Before you get your fairy lights twisted in a knot, here are a few holiday hacks to help you out.

That’s a wrap

If you have a big family and tons of friends, gift wrap could become more expensive than the actual gifts. You’re probably tempted to buy specific wrapping for each person and cute gift bags, but it’s really a waste because most people just rip the paper off anyway. Instead of splashing out on pricey wrapping paper, get a large roll of brown paper to wrap the gifts with and finish off with a bow made of string. It’s chic and minimalist, and your budget will thank you.

Be kind to your pockets

It’s tempting to splurge on fun, fancy and fantastic gifts for your loved ones, but don’t forget that January is a long way off. Be honest with yourself about how much money you can spend and create your budget from there. There are different ways to make your money stretch. Keep an eye out for bargains, get creative by making homemade gifts and buy some gifts in bulk.

Befriend your freezer

Cooking can be fun – and time consuming. Hack your way through the hassle by cooking batches of food in advance and freezing. For example, cook dishes like potatoes and certain veggies, and then freeze, defrost and reheat them in the oven on the day that they’re needed.

Chill out your drinks

After a hearty meal, a lukewarm drink is the stuff evil is made of! If you’ve forgotten to chill your drinks in the midst of the cooking madness, don’t stress. Wrap the bottles tightly in a damp kitchen towel, and pop them into the freezer. Heat travels more quickly through dense materials (like wet cloth), so your drinks will soon be ice-cold and ready to pour in roughly 20 minutes.

Throw tradition out the window

Some traditions like giving gifts are timeless, but others aren’t worth the effort or stress. If having the festivities at your home every year is stressful, suggest rotating houses every year, or going out for lunch. If making Christmas pudding after cooking a big lunch is too much work, serve ice-cream instead. You might feel anxious about suggesting or making changes, but you’ll benefit in the long run, by saving time and effort – and your sanity!

Drive safely

Family road trips, rushing around for last-minute gifts and late-night fast food runs… you spend a lot of time on the road during festive season so be extra mindful of being safe. Pack an emergency kit into your boot, don’t drink and drive and always wear your seat-belt. Also, remember to keep track of your petrol tank to prevent running out of petrol when you most need it.

And last, but not least: Make sure you’ve installed the Hello Doctor app, and you are signed in. This way, you’re only be one click away from a doctor’s advice, anytime, anywhere!

References:

Having fussy eaters over on Christmas Day?

December 7th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

For most of us, memories of childhood Christmas celebrations are simple and straightforward:

Option 1: was a full hot meal with various roasts and veggies, followed by trifle and Christmas pudding. Option 2 was the cold route with salads, meats and various desserts.

But, all of that has changed. More knowledge about how diet affects our health, means that your guests may want anything from meat-free to banting to vegan to pescatarian. Christmas meals may never be the same again!

Who is Coming to Lunch?

Even if your family hasn’t made drastic changes to the daily menu, there’s every chance that one of your guests has given up meat, gluten or dairy. That means that old favourites like trifle, glazed ham or a potjie can’t be the only option on your table. No, don’t panic – all you have to do is make sure you have some extra options and, to make this easier, we’ve loaded some recipes for delicious alternatives that even your family will enjoy.

  • For the banters: straightforward roasts or braaied meats are great, salads, vegetables without carby sauces, and here are two fabulous substitutes for potatoes: Butternut & Sweet Potato Mash and Cumin Roasted Sweet Potatoes
  • For vegans: the key here is nothing to do with animals – no butter, cheese, honey, meat, fish or poultry – even ordinary jelly is made from animal-derived gelatin. So, salads or roasted vegetables are good options (remember: no mayonnaise).
  • For guests who are avoiding gluten: the key here is to avoid any wheat product, so no spongy trifle, flour-based sauces, breads, pastas or biscuits. That doesn’t mean everyone else has to go without, only provide some alternatives, like these Chocolate Chili Chickpea brownies that can be made ahead of time.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year for everyone and these tips will make sure there’s no reason for awkwardness when it’s time to eat.

This little girl spent Christmas giving gifts to the homeless

November 22nd, 2019 by Content Editor

Spread love this Christmas like Pearly Rose McGowan, a six-year old girl from Glasgow in the UK, who spent Christmas handing out soup and gifts to homeless people.

On her way home one day, McGowan was inspired to help others after spotting a man taking shelter in a doorway.

While unwrapping her presents on Christmas day, she realised how fortunate she was and asked her grandfather to help her make goodie bags for homeless people in the community.

The gift bags contained winter-warmers like homemade soup, sandwiches, chips, sweets and socks.

Goodies in hand, they travelled from their home in West Dunbartonshire to Glasgow city centre and spent the afternoon helping people.

Take a lesson out of Pearly Rose’s book this Christmas by putting a smile on less-fortunate faces.

This could range from pre-packed boxes for orphanages, foods like non-perishables, ready cooked meals, or taking the morning off to volunteer with your loved ones at a local shelter.

Extend your help at an organisation of your choice or try these:

Ikamva lethu

This is a community-driven non-governmental, non-profit organisation that delivers many forms of social support throughout Cape Town township communities. Their work focuses on early childhood development, afterschool initiatives for children, and the wellbeing of the elderly.

Contact: 021 461 8338, [email protected]
Where to find it: Hills Building, Buchanan Square, 160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.

Baphumelele Children’s Home

Pop by for a couple hours a day to paint the colourful playground walls, assist staff with daily chores, like bottle-making, snack-making, teeth-brushing, cleaning syringes, preparing vegetables, tutoring, mentoring, coaching, and developmental play for infants and toddlers. Donations are welcome too.

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Contact: 021 361 8631, [email protected], [email protected], or visit their
Facebook page.
Where to find it: Z118 Dabula Street, Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Johannesburg Dream Centre

Make a difference while having fun at the Johannesburg Dream Centre, an organisation that aims to alleviate poverty by helping the less fortunate. Help out by packing Christmas boxes, grocery packs, assisting with stationery drives or even with marketing their initiative.

Contact: 07 81 402 8576, [email protected]
Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm
Where to find it: Northlands Corner, 1st floor, Corner New Market and Witkoppen Road, Johannesburg, 2194

CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife)

Put your love for animals to good use and give a hand to CROW, Durban’s only wildlife rehabilitation centre. This organisation is dedicated to the rescue and release of all indigenous wildlife. You’ll get to help orphaned and injured animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and even mongoose. As CROW is funded by the public, donations are always welcomed.

Contact: 031 469 0583, [email protected]
Monday-Friday, 7am – 5pm
Where to find it: 15A Coedmore Avenue, Yellowwood Park, 4011, Durban,Kwa-Zulu Natal,

The Street store

The Street Store is a donation drop-off with a collection point in one spot at the same time. This helps those in need to shop for what they want, and allows donors the opportunity to meet the homeless, and overcome their stereotypes.

The initiative encourages one-on-one interaction; all donations are made on the day. The best way to get in touch with this initiative is to keep an eye out for upcoming events. If you want to host a pop-up in your community, download their guidebook and designs.

Contact: [email protected]
Where to find it: The location varies. Subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date.

References:

How singing Christmas Carols can improve your wellbeing

November 22nd, 2019 by Content Editor

Belting out music is great for your overall physical health, boosts your mental health and may even improve your breathing and reduce symptoms of asthma. Throughout history and across cultures, music has been used as a healing ritual.

So, how can singing Jingle bells boost your wellbeing this Christmas?

In a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, Medical Humanities, a team of researchers analysed participants who took part in the Sing Your Heart Out (SYHO) project- an initiative that runs weekly singing workshops aimed for people with mental health conditions as well as the general public.

The research project followed the group for six months and undertook interviews and focus groups with participants, organisers and workshop leaders.

What the study found was that singing in groups doesn’t only make you happier; it could also improve your mental health, easing conditions such as anxiety and depression. The results showed that people who took part in a community singing group were able to maintain or improve their mental health.

The researchers concluded that taking part in a group activity like singing, on a weekly basis, provided support, structure and contact that helped people improve their mood, feel good, and function better in their everyday life.

Importance of singing

Making music exercises the brain and body, but singing is particularly beneficial for improving breathing, posture and muscle tension. Listening to and participating in music has been shown to be effective in pain relief too. This is probably due to the release of neurochemicals in the brain, like the “feel good” hormone, endorphin.

It’s also been suggested that music can play a role in sustaining a healthy immune system as it helps reduce the stress hormone cortisol while at the same time boosting antibodies.

The psychology of singing

Singing has been shown to improve your sense of happiness and wellbeing. Research has found that people feel more positive after actively singing than they do after passively listening to music or after chatting about positive life events.

The improvement of mood may come directly from the release of positive neurochemicals like endorphin, dopamine and serotonin. This effect is also likely boosted by social connection and interaction with others..

Social connection plays a crucial role in maintaining health. The rapid social bonding that is encouraged by being ins a choir can lead to a sense of increased community and belonging.

So sing your heart out this Christmas, and enjoy not only the joy you feel while doing it, but the health benefits it brings too..

References:

Gift ideas to spread the spirit of wellbeing

November 21st, 2019 by Content Editor

It can be such a tedious task to think of unique gift ideas. If you’re struggling for inspiration, worry no more!.

Here are some “healthy” ideas for this year’s season of giving.

For the new moms in your life

New moms are often forgotten about when the baby arrives, so a personal gift for her will go a long way. Rest and relaxation will be needed as she will be busy taking care of her precious bundle of joy. Bring the spa into her home and spoil her with a pamper hamper. For example, fill a basket or box with items like a fluffy fleece gown, a bag of bath crystals, bath salts and a bath bomb. These will not only help her feel special, but will also help ease her stress.

For the person living with a chronic condition

With most chronic conditions, a healthy diet is vital. For your loved ones this Christmas ensure that they are stocked up with healthy snacks. Fill snack packs with healthy nibbles like delicious dried fruit, nuts, biltong, berries and coconut chips – a great guilt-free way to help keep the hunger pangs at bay.

For the person who suffers from insomnia

Help your loved one get a good night’s rest by gifting them with a convenient sleeping aid tool, such as a mini essential oil diffuser. Certain essential oils, such as lavender can help to improve mood, and relieve stress making it easier for them to enjoy a good night sleep. Getting them a rechargeable one means they’ll be able to have it on the go by plugging it into a PC, car charger or power-bank using a provided USB cable. Add essential oils to the gift so they can have a collection of great aromas they can choose from.

For the chef in the family

Add a twist to this year’s Christmas lunch and gift your aspiring chef with tools to make healthy meals for the whole family. Consider craft and curated food products that range from spices or rubs, wine or a drink, preserves or jams, dry ingredients and/or something sweet.
For the fitness and lifestyle freaks

Save your fit loved one time with a tool that will give them extra time for a workout. With the touch of a button, a veggie bullet electric spiralizer and food processor will allow them to turn nutrient-rich whole ingredients into healthy and complete meals in just minutes. The kitchen accessory will shred their favourite veggies into healthy alternatives or slice deli meats and cucumbers for salads or sandwiches.

References:

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