These Are The 5 Popular Myths About Holiday Habits You Should Be Wary Of

Holidays are an amazing time to reconnect with your family and relatives who you may not have spoken to or met in a long time. What is better than Christmas or New Year's Eve? It is almost the end of year and you can always get a recap of their life around this time. But, beware of the harm the holiday indulgence can do to you. As per a 2023 survey by the American Heart Association, it is during the holiday season when people tend to overlook their health needs. It could be challenging to keep your heart healthy during the holidays, especially due to the distractions from an abundance of high-caloric, high sodium, and high fat foods, along with increased consumption of alcohol at social gatherings. Furthermore, relaxed schedules and the extensive travels, not finding the food to suit your diet can also lead to a disruption in lifestyle, along with your exercise routines.

This is why, today, we are busting some myths around the holiday season, to ensure you do not fall for them and keep your holiday stress-free and healthy!

While holiday stress is real, it is not something you must experience. You can avoid it by prioritizing sleep by aiming for a 7 to 9 hours of healthy sleep. You can also practice relaxation techniques like breathing, yoga or meditation.

As tempting as "save your calories for later" sounds, it is not the most healthy thing to do. In fact, as per a 2023 study published in the Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, meal skipping is associated with a higher mortality risk. The best way is to follow a heart healthy diet and lifestyle.

It is advisable to watch your sodium intake, as excess sodium can lead to risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, enlargement of the heart, and heart attack. According to American Heart Association, these following food are the highest in sodium:

Again, a very tempting one, but must not be done. As per a 2023 report published in Science Daily, of the 45% of people taking a break from exercise, more than half report feeling tired and having less time for themselves.

The sales for alcohol is the highest in December. As per the US Census Bureau's monthly retail sales survey for December 2022, the sales for alcohol were 37% above the average for the other 11 months of the year. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement in 2022 that said that there is no safe amount of drinking alcohol. This means that even during holidays, it is best to avoid alcohols. However, if this is not the case, then one must at least try and limit their consumption to one glass, and then switch to sparkling water or any low calorie, alcohol-free beverage, for the rest of the party.