December 25 brings much joy and laughter, a foodie feast and family memories you’ll cherish, but with the good can also come the bad.
After downing the Buck’s Fizz, munching on mince pies and tucking into a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, you’ll likely find yourself facing the dreaded Christmas 'slump' in the afternoon.
According to a nutrition expert, this typically occurs at around 3pm and leaves you feeling tired and lacking in energy.
But this slump can be avoided, according to Signe Svanfeldt, lead nutritionist at Lifesum.
Svanfeldt said: "A lack of energy in the afternoon can be due to unbalanced eating during the day.
"The Christmas holidays typically include plenty of heavy foods rich in saturated fats, sugar and sodium - all of which should be consumed in moderation.
"After eating heavy foods rich in sugar, our blood sugar spikes and then drops, which makes us feel low in energy."
The expert went on to share her top tips for beating the 3pm slump, which include adding a few nutritious options to your Christmas dinner table and making sure you’re drinking enough water during the day.
"To get a more even blood sugar level, try to eat foods rich in fibre, protein and healthy fats," she suggested.
"Don’t be afraid to include new nutritious dishes to the Christmas table such as an Orange and pomegranate salad, maple roasted carrots, or a pear and cranberry salad."
She continued: "Make sure to eat balanced all throughout the day, and don’t skip meals.
"Not drinking enough can make us feel tired and dizzy. Make sure that you drink enough water.
"Sometimes we mix up the feeling of hunger with thirst and eat something when we’re actually thirsty - so make sure that you always have water available."
And when it comes to alcohol, it’s ok to still indulge a little, but Svanfledt advises drinking in "moderation".
"It’s natural to indulge alcohol during Christmas. Having a glass or two will not cause any harm in healthy (non-pregnant) adults, but drinking excessively can impact our energy levels and sleep habits."
And her final tip is all about exercise, though he’s not expecting you to make a last-minute trip to the gym.
She adds: "During Christmas, physical activity can sometimes take a back seat, which can impact our energy levels in a negative way. Even if you don’t want to go to the gym or do a heavy workout, try to include some sort of physical activity like a brisk walk or playing out in the snow."
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