The Advent and Christmas seasons are known for their culinary temptations. But how do you stay healthy and watch your weight?

The Advent and Christmas season is a time of enjoyment for many, but it often also brings extra pounds on the scales. Sweet treats and hearty meals may be tempting, but they can be detrimental to your health and well-being. Fortunately, there are natural nutrients that can help you overcome this dilemma. “The key to managing weight during this time is making conscious food choices. Choose foods rich in fiber, protein and healthy fats. They fill you up for longer and help keep blood sugar levels stable,” says Natura Vitalis founder Frank Felte (www.naturavitalis.de). The Essen-based company has long been considered one of the leading manufacturers of natural nutritional supplements and attaches great importance to continuous further and new developments of health products on a scientific basis.

Natural vital substances can be particularly helpful in this context. For example, chromium can improve insulin sensitivity and prevent food cravings. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and certain vegetable oils, can reduce inflammation in the body that might be triggered by overeating. “Some herbs and spices such as cinnamon, ginger and turmeric may also help regulate weight. These can be consumed as teas, spices or even in capsule form. Not only are they tasty, but they also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” reports Frank Felte and adds: “In addition to diet, exercise also plays an important role in the dark season. Natural vital substances such as magnesium can support this as they promote muscle regeneration and prevent exhaustion.”

By the way, feeling full is a common phenomenon during the holidays and can be quite unpleasant. One of the best-known remedies for bloating is ginger. It promotes blood circulation in the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates digestion. A freshly made ginger tea after a heavy meal can work wonders. Peppermint tea has a relaxing effect and can also help reduce feelings of fullness and flatulence. Peppermint oil capsules are also available and provide a concentrated dose. And sometimes the body's enzyme production is not enough to fully digest food. In such cases, enzyme supplements such as bromelain or papain can be helpful. These enzymes can be found in pineapple and papaya and can be taken as dietary supplements.

One of the easiest ways to avoid feeling full is to eat slowly. This gives your body time to digest the food and sense the brain's satiety signals. Smaller portions can reduce the risk of feeling full. If you can't restrain yourself during the holidays, try eating smaller amounts throughout the day instead of consuming everything at once. A short walk after eating can also be helpful to reduce the feeling of fullness. Exercise stimulates blood circulation and digestion, which moves food through the gastrointestinal tract more quickly.

According to Frank Felte, this means: “The Advent and Christmas season does not necessarily have to be accompanied by weight gain and health problems. Through conscious nutrition and the targeted use of natural vital substances, you can enjoy the holidays to the fullest without harming your health.”

This text may contain translation errors as the translation was done by an online translation tool.