Introduction
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be a challenge to maintain our healthy lifestyle habits. From indulgent feasts to tempting desserts and cocktails, it’s easy to let our health take a backseat during this time. However, it’s important to prioritize the wellness of our families, express gratitude, and ensure the safety of our loved ones. In this article, we will explore seven essential holiday health and safety tips that will help you and your family thrive all season long.
Make Superfood Switches
If you’re wondering how to have a healthy holiday, one simple step is to enhance the nutritiousness of your meals by incorporating superfoods. Superfoods are natural, nutrient-packed foods that are low in calories. By adding superfoods to your festive dishes, you not only add delicious flavor but also essential vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in traditional holiday fare. Here are some ways to infuse your holiday cooking with superfoods:
- Upgrade stuffing or casseroles by adding sweet potatoes.
- Replace creamy green bean casserole with a leafy green salad, topped with chia seeds and chopped cashews.
- Use probiotic-rich, unsweetened Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese, sour cream, or mayo in recipes.
- Make yogurt parfaits with antioxidant-packed blueberries and blackberries as a delicious, light breakfast or dessert after a holiday feast.
Stick to Your Regular Sleep Schedule
Getting enough sleep is crucial for a healthy holiday and new year. Irregular sleep patterns can lead to poor sleep quality, increased fatigue, unhealthy eating habits, daytime drowsiness, and higher risk of developing serious health problems. To maintain a healthy sleep schedule:
- Make an effort to go to bed and wake up at the same times you usually do.
- Avoid excessive napping during the day.
- Create a relaxing bedtime routine to help your body transition into sleep mode.
Incorporate Group Fitness Activities
Regular exercise is essential for our overall health and well-being. It offers numerous benefits, including better brain health, healthy weight maintenance, reduced risk of chronic diseases, stronger bones and muscles, and greater ability to perform everyday activities. To make exercise a family affair during the holiday season:
- Find a Thanksgiving turkey trot or organize group walks.
- Practice yoga together in the backyard.
- Engage in fun outdoor activities like building a snowman or having a snowball fight.
Handle, Prepare, and Serve Food Safely
Foodborne illnesses can quickly spoil a holiday gathering. To ensure the safety of your loved ones:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food.
- Use clean utensils and dishware when preparing and serving food.
- Keep raw meats separate from other prepared foods.
- Ensure foods, especially poultry, reach safe internal temperatures.
- Avoid leaving prepared foods out for more than two hours and promptly refrigerate any leftovers.
Spread Joy, Not Germs
Protecting yourself and your loved ones from germs is crucial during the holiday season. Boost your immune system by eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and other antioxidant-packed foods. Consider taking supplements like vitamin C to reinforce your immunity. Additionally, follow these tips to prevent the spread of germs:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
- Cover your mouth when coughing and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.
- If you’re traveling, use disinfecting wipes to clean frequently touched surfaces.
Incorporate Gratitude
Expressing gratitude has tangible benefits for both mental and physical well-being. Dedicate time during your holiday celebration to incorporate gratitude:
- Go around the table and share something you’re each grateful for.
- Keep a gratitude journal and write down things you’re thankful for each day.
- Practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment.
Consider Getting CPR Training
The holiday season can be a stressful time, and it’s important to be prepared for emergencies. Consider dedicating part of the holiday season to CPR training:
- Organizations like Newcastle Training and American Red Cross offer CPR courses.
- Being equipped with CPR skills can help you intervene during emergencies.
- Promote safer and healthier family get-togethers.
Conclusion
The holiday season doesn’t have to be synonymous with stress, anxiety, or unpleasant physical symptoms. By following these seven essential health and safety tips, you can protect the well-being of yourself and your family. Prioritize your health, express gratitude, and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between holistic and alternative medicine?
Holistic medicine addresses the whole person, including mind, body and spirit. It considers all aspects a person’s wellbeing, including the emotional, spiritual, as well as environmental factors, that are often ignored by traditional medicine. Alternative medicine can treat specific conditions like allergies, asthma, arthritis, and others.
Who uses alternative medicine instead of traditional medicine?
Alternative medicine is often used for many reasons.
- They seek to avoid dangerous drugs and surgeries.
- They believe natural remedies work more effectively.
- They prefer non-invasive therapies.
- They are looking to spend less.
- Natural products make them feel safer.
- They want more control over their own healthcare decisions.
- They are ready to take charge of their health.
- They desire a better environment.
- They want less stress in their lives.
- They desire greater control over their doctors and their healthcare plans.
- They want their child to receive a better educational experience.
- They desire healthy food to feed their families.
- They want safe, effective medications.
What are the five domains of integrative medical care?
The five domains of integrative medicine include mind-body, nutrition, social determinants, lifestyle, and prevention. These five areas cover all aspects of health care including spiritual, physical, and environmental well being.
Integrative medicine provides a comprehensive approach to the treatment of disease, health, and well-being. It includes both conventional medical treatment and complementary therapies such acupuncture.
What does it mean to use complementary medicine?
Complementary Medicine can be described as any treatment that is complementary to mainstream medicine. This covers treatments such as acupuncture (aromatherapy), chiropractic care, homeopathy and hypnosis.
Complementary medicines should not be used in lieu of traditional medicine. They should be used alongside it. They’re also sometimes called “alternative” or “integrative” medicine because they integrate Western scientific methods with other approaches that have been proven effective in healing people.
What is the difference between Naturopathic Medicine and Holistic Medicine,
The two main types of medicine are conventional medicine and complementary/alternative medicine. Conventional medicine relies heavily on drugs and surgery to treat its patients. Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) uses natural therapies such as herbs, vitamins, acupuncture, and massage to treat illness and promote health. The CAM is not intended to be a replacement for conventional treatment. It is meant to assist patients who wish to have control over their own healthcare and choose what is best.
Naturopathy, on the other hand is used to supplement conventional medical practices. It focuses on treating the whole body, mind, and spirit. There are many different forms of naturopathy, including Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Native American Medicine, and Functional Medicine.
It is important to remember that some CAM modalities overlap slightly with conventional medicine. Both doctors and Naturopaths can prescribe herbal remedies. But, naturopaths are more concerned with lifestyle changes than prescribing medications.
Naturopathy can be called “complementary” when it is used in combination with conventional medicine. Naturopaths might prescribe medication if necessary.
There are differences between naturopathic medicines and other CAM modalities.
- Naturopaths don’t usually prescribe medication.
- Naturopaths will work with the patient’s family medicine and may refer patients outpatients to specialists, if necessary.
- Naturopathic doctors are licensed by the provincial licensing boards. CAM practitioners, however, are self-regulated.
- Naturopathy stresses prevention and wellness, while offering education on diet and exercise.
- Naturopaths place a strong emphasis on lifestyle factors. These include nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, nutrition, and mental well being.
- Naturopharmacists focus on the use of minerals and botanicals to treat certain conditions.
- Naturopodists receive individualized care according to the unique needs of each patient.
- Regulation bodies such as the College of Naturopathic Physicians of Ontario issue licenses to Naturopaths.
- The provincial regulatory bodies issue licenses to naturopatrists.
- Naturopaticians may be registered with Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
- The College of Naturopaths of British Columbia is responsible for licensing Naturotherapists.
- The United States National Board of Medical Examiners has licensed Naturobiotic Therapists.
- The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency entitles homeopaths.
- The concept of “holistic” is a belief that all aspects – spiritual, emotional, and social – should be considered when making decisions regarding one’s health. Holistic doctors will consider these elements together instead of focusing only on one aspect.
Is holistic care the same thing?
Holistic Health Care stands out from Alternative Medicine as it focuses on the whole person and not just the symptoms.
Holistic Health Care addresses all aspects of an individual’s life: mental, physical, psychological, spiritual, occupational, cultural and family.
Alternative Medicine doesn’t address such issues. It focuses solely on the body, mind, emotions, etc.
Statistics
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The rise of complementary and other medicine: A sociological perspective
- Holistic medicine – PubMed
doi.org
nccih.nih.gov
How To
How to pursue a career in Holistic Medicine
The field is experiencing unprecedented growth in holistic medicine. This career path can be pursued in many different ways. Returning to school is the best way to go if you’re looking to make a career out of this.
A number of schools offer holistic medicine programs. One of these schools is the National College for Complementary Medicines, which offers both undergraduate degrees and postgraduate programs. There are also programs that are specifically designed for medical professionals who want to enter this field.
Many online universities also offer holistic health classes. The Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) is an example of such a program. Students can access a variety of holistic health education tools, and resources from this institution.
Another option is to apply for a traditional 4-year college. Many colleges offer holistic health courses. For example, the University of California offers a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Health Sciences.
If you’re interested in a career in holistic medical, it is worth taking a nutrition class. NCCM recommends to students that they study nutrition before embarking upon any professional training. A good knowledge of nutrition is crucial for integrative medicine.
Because holistic medicine addresses the whole person rather that just treating symptoms, it requires more skills and knowledge than conventional medicine. Holistic medicine requires that people who are interested in it understand how to assess different types of illnesses from a nutritional perspective.
The NCCM says that nutritionists often work with doctors to provide dietary advice to their patients. Some will even suggest supplements or diets based on the patient’s specific condition.
The fundamental principles of nutrition are essential for holistic practitioners. This includes understanding the nutritional content of foods. It is also about identifying nutrient deficiencies as well as other problems that may cause them.
It is important to remember that holistic practitioners do not specialize in nutrition. Some focus exclusively on herbal treatments, others only on acupuncture. Some people combine these two approaches into a single treatment.
Most holistic practitioners advocate a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and nuts. They also encourage the consumption of fish and seafood. They advise avoiding processed food products and fast food restaurants. They recommend that people eat as much organic produce as possible.
The one thing holistic practitioners can agree on is the importance of a balanced diet in helping to prevent diseases. That said, there are some things about which they disagree. For example, they do not believe that gluten causes celiac. Instead, they believe that a shortage of nutrients is the cause.
However, they agree that allergic reactions can be triggered by certain foods. Anaphylaxis can also be caused by peanuts or shellfish. They warn against too much caffeine.
Many holistic practitioners will use herbs to treat different illnesses. However, they do not recommend using drugs. These practitioners feel that these drugs mask the problem and do not solve it. Therefore, natural remedies are preferred.
Holistic practitioners offer a range of alternative therapies and often employ complementary methods. These include:
- Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves strategically placing needles in the skin. This stimulates the body’s healing process.
- Herbal therapy – This is a form of acupuncture that holistic practitioners also use to treat different disorders. One common herb used for this purpose is ginseng.
- Homeopathy – Another type of traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, is based on the principle that like cures. Let’s say you experience the same symptoms as someone suffering from a specific illness. You should seek the same ingredients in the original remedy.
- Massage therapy – Many holistic practitioners offer massage to promote relaxation and stress reduction. It is also claimed to improve blood circulation, increase energy levels, and reduce muscle tension.
It is important to find a practitioner who meets your needs when choosing one. Look for someone who is trained in nutrition counseling if you are looking for someone who is certified in that area. Likewise, if you want to learn more about acupuncture, find a practitioner certified by the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM).
Ask your doctor if you have questions about holistic health care before making any decision. To find out what services your insurance covers, you might also want to consult with your doctor.
–
——————————————————————————————————————————————
This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you’re experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
By: Dick Benson
Title: 7 Essential Holiday Health and Safety Tips For the Whole Family
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/lifestyle-2/how-families-can-promote-health-this-holiday-season/
Published Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2023 23:16:16 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between holistic and alternative medicine?
Holistic medicine addresses the whole person, including mind, body and spirit. It considers all aspects a person’s wellbeing, including the emotional, spiritual, as well as environmental factors, that are often ignored by traditional medicine. Alternative medicine can treat specific conditions like allergies, asthma, arthritis, and others.
Who uses alternative medicine instead of traditional medicine?
Alternative medicine is often used for many reasons.
- They seek to avoid dangerous drugs and surgeries.
- They believe natural remedies work more effectively.
- They prefer non-invasive therapies.
- They are looking to spend less.
- Natural products make them feel safer.
- They want more control over their own healthcare decisions.
- They are ready to take charge of their health.
- They desire a better environment.
- They want less stress in their lives.
- They desire greater control over their doctors and their healthcare plans.
- They want their child to receive a better educational experience.
- They desire healthy food to feed their families.
- They want safe, effective medications.
What are the five domains of integrative medical care?
The five domains of integrative medicine include mind-body, nutrition, social determinants, lifestyle, and prevention. These five areas cover all aspects of health care including spiritual, physical, and environmental well being.
Integrative medicine provides a comprehensive approach to the treatment of disease, health, and well-being. It includes both conventional medical treatment and complementary therapies such acupuncture.
What does it mean to use complementary medicine?
Complementary Medicine can be described as any treatment that is complementary to mainstream medicine. This covers treatments such as acupuncture (aromatherapy), chiropractic care, homeopathy and hypnosis.
Complementary medicines should not be used in lieu of traditional medicine. They should be used alongside it. They’re also sometimes called “alternative” or “integrative” medicine because they integrate Western scientific methods with other approaches that have been proven effective in healing people.
What is the difference between Naturopathic Medicine and Holistic Medicine,
The two main types of medicine are conventional medicine and complementary/alternative medicine. Conventional medicine relies heavily on drugs and surgery to treat its patients. Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) uses natural therapies such as herbs, vitamins, acupuncture, and massage to treat illness and promote health. The CAM is not intended to be a replacement for conventional treatment. It is meant to assist patients who wish to have control over their own healthcare and choose what is best.
Naturopathy, on the other hand is used to supplement conventional medical practices. It focuses on treating the whole body, mind, and spirit. There are many different forms of naturopathy, including Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Native American Medicine, and Functional Medicine.
It is important to remember that some CAM modalities overlap slightly with conventional medicine. Both doctors and Naturopaths can prescribe herbal remedies. But, naturopaths are more concerned with lifestyle changes than prescribing medications.
Naturopathy can be called “complementary” when it is used in combination with conventional medicine. Naturopaths might prescribe medication if necessary.
There are differences between naturopathic medicines and other CAM modalities.
- Naturopaths don’t usually prescribe medication.
- Naturopaths will work with the patient’s family medicine and may refer patients outpatients to specialists, if necessary.
- Naturopathic doctors are licensed by the provincial licensing boards. CAM practitioners, however, are self-regulated.
- Naturopathy stresses prevention and wellness, while offering education on diet and exercise.
- Naturopaths place a strong emphasis on lifestyle factors. These include nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, nutrition, and mental well being.
- Naturopharmacists focus on the use of minerals and botanicals to treat certain conditions.
- Naturopodists receive individualized care according to the unique needs of each patient.
- Regulation bodies such as the College of Naturopathic Physicians of Ontario issue licenses to Naturopaths.
- The provincial regulatory bodies issue licenses to naturopatrists.
- Naturopaticians may be registered with Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
- The College of Naturopaths of British Columbia is responsible for licensing Naturotherapists.
- The United States National Board of Medical Examiners has licensed Naturobiotic Therapists.
- The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency entitles homeopaths.
- The concept of “holistic” is a belief that all aspects – spiritual, emotional, and social – should be considered when making decisions regarding one’s health. Holistic doctors will consider these elements together instead of focusing only on one aspect.
Is holistic care the same thing?
Holistic Health Care stands out from Alternative Medicine as it focuses on the whole person and not just the symptoms.
Holistic Health Care addresses all aspects of an individual’s life: mental, physical, psychological, spiritual, occupational, cultural and family.
Alternative Medicine doesn’t address such issues. It focuses solely on the body, mind, emotions, etc.
Statistics
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The rise of complementary and other medicine: A sociological perspective
- Holistic medicine – PubMed
doi.org
nccih.nih.gov
How To
How to pursue a career in Holistic Medicine
The field is experiencing unprecedented growth in holistic medicine. This career path can be pursued in many different ways. Returning to school is the best way to go if you’re looking to make a career out of this.
A number of schools offer holistic medicine programs. One of these schools is the National College for Complementary Medicines, which offers both undergraduate degrees and postgraduate programs. There are also programs that are specifically designed for medical professionals who want to enter this field.
Many online universities also offer holistic health classes. The Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) is an example of such a program. Students can access a variety of holistic health education tools, and resources from this institution.
Another option is to apply for a traditional 4-year college. Many colleges offer holistic health courses. For example, the University of California offers a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Health Sciences.
If you’re interested in a career in holistic medical, it is worth taking a nutrition class. NCCM recommends to students that they study nutrition before embarking upon any professional training. A good knowledge of nutrition is crucial for integrative medicine.
Because holistic medicine addresses the whole person rather that just treating symptoms, it requires more skills and knowledge than conventional medicine. Holistic medicine requires that people who are interested in it understand how to assess different types of illnesses from a nutritional perspective.
The NCCM says that nutritionists often work with doctors to provide dietary advice to their patients. Some will even suggest supplements or diets based on the patient’s specific condition.
The fundamental principles of nutrition are essential for holistic practitioners. This includes understanding the nutritional content of foods. It is also about identifying nutrient deficiencies as well as other problems that may cause them.
It is important to remember that holistic practitioners do not specialize in nutrition. Some focus exclusively on herbal treatments, others only on acupuncture. Some people combine these two approaches into a single treatment.
Most holistic practitioners advocate a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and nuts. They also encourage the consumption of fish and seafood. They advise avoiding processed food products and fast food restaurants. They recommend that people eat as much organic produce as possible.
The one thing holistic practitioners can agree on is the importance of a balanced diet in helping to prevent diseases. That said, there are some things about which they disagree. For example, they do not believe that gluten causes celiac. Instead, they believe that a shortage of nutrients is the cause.
However, they agree that allergic reactions can be triggered by certain foods. Anaphylaxis can also be caused by peanuts or shellfish. They warn against too much caffeine.
Many holistic practitioners will use herbs to treat different illnesses. However, they do not recommend using drugs. These practitioners feel that these drugs mask the problem and do not solve it. Therefore, natural remedies are preferred.
Holistic practitioners offer a range of alternative therapies and often employ complementary methods. These include:
- Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves strategically placing needles in the skin. This stimulates the body’s healing process.
- Herbal therapy – This is a form of acupuncture that holistic practitioners also use to treat different disorders. One common herb used for this purpose is ginseng.
- Homeopathy – Another type of traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, is based on the principle that like cures. Let’s say you experience the same symptoms as someone suffering from a specific illness. You should seek the same ingredients in the original remedy.
- Massage therapy – Many holistic practitioners offer massage to promote relaxation and stress reduction. It is also claimed to improve blood circulation, increase energy levels, and reduce muscle tension.
It is important to find a practitioner who meets your needs when choosing one. Look for someone who is trained in nutrition counseling if you are looking for someone who is certified in that area. Likewise, if you want to learn more about acupuncture, find a practitioner certified by the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM).
Ask your doctor if you have questions about holistic health care before making any decision. To find out what services your insurance covers, you might also want to consult with your doctor.
