Jennifer Hanway is our in-house board certified holistic nutritionist, wellness expert and certified personal trainer. With the holidays approaching, follow Jenny’s top 5 tips to stay lean and clean through the holiday season and feel your best!
1. Hydrate the Holidays
This may seem so simple, but with the ‘let’s catch up for coffee’ dates, wine with lunch celebrations and evening cocktails or glasses of champagne, it can be easy to forget to drink water. Not staying hydrated over the holidays can make you feel tired, stressed and show up on your skin as fine lines and wrinkles – so be sure to keep water intake up at this time. Drink a large glass upon waking, keep a water bottle in your purse, at your desk and in the car, drink 2 glasses of water for every caffeinated or alcoholic drink you consume, and don’t forget to apply your favorite Hyaluronic Acid serum to keep the skin hydrated from the outside in.
2. Get Gut Healthy
At this time of year all of the sweet treats, extra alcohol, travel and stress can lead to poor gut health. Gas, bloating and constipation can be common at the holidays. A few simple strategies can be so helpful – make sure you are chewing your food before you swallow, don’t drink cold beverages with lots of ice with your meals, take a few deep breaths before eating (this gets you into ‘rest & digest’ mode) and consider taking a digestive enzyme with meals – Jennifer recommends RMDY Daily Digestive Essentials.
3. Balance Your Blood Sugar
With cookies, candy and holiday treats everywhere you look at this time of year it can feel like we are on a rollercoaster of sugar highs followed by energy lows. Not only does this affect our energy, but it also leads to low mood, headaches, weight gain and premature aging of the skin. Aim to start your day with a protein, fat and fiber based breakfast (such as one of our Beauty Foods Smoothies from our Anti-Aging Wellness Program), eat some lean protein, veggies and healthy fats at every meal, and indulge in the sweet treats you really love. Dr. Russak and Jennifer love 100% dark chocolate!
4. Strategic Supplements
Adding a few great supplements at this time of year can support your health and wellness – try adding Nutrafol’s Collagen Infusion to your morning latte, take activated charcoal after a few too many glasses of something fun, or even book one of our new IV’s with NAD+ as the perfect pre-party primer or pick me up after a big celebration.
5. Sleep Smart
There is a high chance that you might not get 8 hours of sleep every night during the holidays, but make sure the sleep that you do get is of great quality! Keep all screens out of the bedroom (this includes your phone), use an eye mask and ear plugs and keep your bedroom cool and dark (around 65 degrees is ideal). Great sleep is important for all aspects of wellness, including the health of your skin and hair. Sweet dreams!
