Dana Prince on December 21st, 2013

Even people who are generally very active and fit find it easier to gain weight during the holidays. Keep reading to learn about how to enjoy the holiday season without stepping on the scale and experiencing some serious regrets.

Try Moderation, Not Abstinence

It’s easy to become so adamant about avoiding holiday treats that you eventually end up feeling deprived and end up eating too many rather than sticking to your original plan.

To avoid that common scenario, try to eat as sensibly as possible by sampling treats rather than filling your plate with goodies. When you make a plan to enjoy in moderation rather than going without, it should be easier to have a good time without ignoring a healthy diet.

Steer Clear of the Punch Bowl

Holiday punch is very tasty, but it’s often high in calories because of all of the sweet ingredients. Instead of drinking punch, try carbonated water with a spritz of lemon or lime juice. Then, you won’t have to be empty-handed at a party, but also won’t feel like you’re packing on the pounds with every sip.

Take Chaga Mushroom Supplements

If you’ve noticed you’re more likely to overeat during periods of stress, that’s a common behavior. In addition to understanding certain triggers that make you feel stressed out, you may also find it helpful to supplement your diet with chaga mushrooms.

Those native to Siberia have some of the highest antioxidant contents available, and are also classified as adaptogens. They promote your body’s natural stress response and could help you feel more resilient. Try adding chaga to your daily routine rather than reaching for something unhealthy to combat stress.

Save Time for Exercising

The holiday season can bring more obligations and quickly deplete your free time. Aim to manage your schedule so you never feel too busy or overwhelmed to exercise. Taking time to be physically active can even help clear your mind so you’re more focused after returning to holiday duties.

If you’ve been going to the gym regularly or otherwise being physically active on a regular basis, neglecting the regimen for a few consecutive days could make you start to lose some hard-earned gains.

With help from these ideas, you should find it easier to relax and enjoy the holiday season without being tempted to lapse into unhealthy eating habits and later dealing with unplanned weight gain. They’re easy to start using today and are also beneficial all through the year.

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Dana Prince on November 5th, 2013

coconut uses infographic

Learn how the coconut tree provides all-around benefits — from its husks and roots to coconut oil — through our infographic “Plant of Life: An Infographic on Various Coconut Uses.” Use the embed code to share it on your website.

coconut uses infographic

Learn how the coconut tree provides all-around benefits -- from its husks and roots to coconut oil -- through our infographic "Plant of Life: An Infographic on Various Coconut Uses."

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Dana Prince on October 30th, 2013

You may be doing a great job of eating well, but if you’re still sipping on soda throughout the day, you’re consuming a lot of unnecessary calories. Fortunately, even if you’ve become extremely reliant on soda, it’s easy to cut down on how much you drink and reduce your caloric intake, too. Read below to find out more about some simple techniques and swaps that could make a big difference.

Try Chaga Mushrooms

You may not yet be familiar with the chaga mushroom, but in many parts of the world, it has been used for hundreds of years as a way to support the immune system and promote the body’s ability to handle stress. It’s simple to mix chaga powder into a fruit smoothie. You can even brew it to make tea. By trying these beverage alternatives, you may discover that, before long, you don’t miss soda as much as you expected.

Combine Sparkling Water with a Spritz of Lemon

Many people think the reason they crave soda so much is because of the sugar. However, the fizzy liquid also likely plays a role, too. Rather than depriving your body altogether, make a compromise and combine sparkling water with a bit of lemon juice. This low-calorie alternative has an appealing flavor and you’ll appreciate how the bubbles in the water might just fool your brain into thinking you’re downing a glass of soda.

Buy a Water Filter

If you find yourself steering clear of tap water because of an unpleasant taste or odor, it’s easy to fix those issues by purchasing a water filter. Some attach directly to an existing faucet, but you may find it more convenient to purchase a pitcher that includes a built-in filter.

That way, if you’re trying to coach yourself to drink a particular amount of water each day, you’ll have a clear visual indicator of progress by watching the container slowly become less full through the day. Also, by keeping the pitcher in the refrigerator, you’ll have instant access to cold, fresh water without having to turn on the faucet and wait for the water to reach the ideal temperature.

In closing, keep in mind that it’s usually not ideal to make yourself stop drinking soda all at once. By using these suggestions, you can go through the transition gradually and discover that there are several beverage alternatives that could be just as satisfying as soda, but contain fewer calories and sugar.

Dana Prince gets her Siberian Chaga mushrooms from http://www.sayanhealth.com. Dana also writes for Sayan Health and the Sayan Chaga Blog.

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