Wave: Rescue remedies

Wave World: your monthly health, beauty and wellbeing segment

Not only are we more susceptible to germs during the cold winter months, but in January we also have to give our poor bodies a helping hand in struggling to recover from the (possibly very over-indulgent!) Christmas season.

As winter envelops, most of us give in to the temptation of comfort eating. When we over-indulge in foods high in carbohydrates, fats or sugars, a few things happen in the digestion process that can leave us feeling lethargic and drowsy. When you eat, your brain signals to your body to slow down and digest the incoming food – the more you put in the harder your digestive system has to work, and the less energy you will have.

Effortlessly drifting off to sleep, waking up with the birds and charging through every day full of enthusiasm may seem a thing of the past. But it’s still achievable – if you come across one of these enviable people who achieve this routine on a daily basis, they almost certainly have their diets nailed.

What and when you eat can have a significant effect on your energy levels. And you can feel perkier by improving your eating habits with healthy food choices that you can incorporate into your everyday life.

If you have to drag yourself through the day, it’s easy to think popping a supplement or chugging an energy drink can help recharge your batteries. But stop right there! All-day energy doesn’t come packed inside a pill or a concoction within a can … it comes from real food, ready made and packed with nature’s secret stash of natural revitalizers.

Start small – take a fresh packed lunch to work, cook a healthy meal with friends or simply make time for a bowl of porridge or wholegrain toast before work, where you didn’t before.

And the good news is, there’s no need to ditch the treats altogether, just eat them in moderation!
Words: Molly Taylor-Jones