Want To Look Fab This New Year's Eve? Try These Healthy Steps

With the festive season just around the corner, most of us want to look our best and enjoy the celebrations. So this is the time to start the preparations to look all toned up and well maintained on New Year’s Eve. There is no need to starve, though. You can flaunt a well-maintained body by following a few simple rules. Here’s a step-by-step guide for you to dazzle everyone with a hot bod glowing with health.

Now the countdown begins…
3 weeks before the New Year Drink enough water: Make sure that you drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. It keeps the body hydrated and flushes out the toxins. Drink green tea: Drink 3-4 cups of green tea every day. The flavanoids present in green tea improve micro-circulation, adding to the skin glow.

Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains: Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables give your skin an attractive and healthy glow. Also, include a variety of whole grains in your diet like whole wheat bread, oats, brown rice, millet and barley.

Cleanse your system: Our bodies are constantly exposed to toxins. One of the easiest ways to remove toxins is by including vegetable and fruit juices in diet. Here’s an excellent juice recipe: Take 1 carrot, ½ beetroot and 2 tomatoes. Cut them and put them in a juicer to extract the juice. This combination rejuvenates the cells of the body, detoxifies the liver and makes your skin glow.

Avoid oily foods: Avoid oily foods as these are not good for your skin and make your digestion sluggish. Fats in the food make the skin more prone to skin problems.

Include protein in your diet: Eat lean proteins such as fish, chicken and eggs whites as these are high in protein.

2 weeks before New Year’s Eve Boost your immunity. We all are prone to cold and flu around this time of the year. Be sure to take a Vitamin C tablet of 1,000 mg once a day. Also drink amla juice (available at all our centres).

Eat home-cooked food: Cooking your own food gives you the crucial control on what you eat. Chuck out all fast food and restaurant food from your diet.

Exercise & move: Make sure that you weight-train 3 days a week. This will help you improve your body shape and give you more energy.
1 week before New Year’s Eve

Reduce salt: Salt makes us retain water, which adds to the weight and makes us look bloated. Avoid salty condiments like ketchup, barbecue sauce and canned/processed foods prior to any big event.

Do not skip your meals: Don’t follow the feasting-and-fasting strategy. Skipping meals lead to more snacking on sweets and leftover food. Eat 5-6 small meals instead of 2-3 large meals.

Reduce alcohol intake: As it will make you puffy-eyed and bloated. If you must drink, take a small peg of vodka. Avoid cocktails as they add to the body weight.

Avoid stress: Stress is bad for our skin and body. It makes you want to eat sweets. Avoid being sensitive to issues and take life easy. This is the best way to avoid stress.

Catch up on your sleep: It is essential to get sound sleep that allows your body to rest and recharge.

Special care in winter: Since the New Year comes in winter, you need to prepare keeping in mind the temperature drop. Make sure to keep yourself warm and drive away infections this winter with these heat-generating foods:
• Snack on unsalted nuts and dry fruits like almonds, cashew nuts, raisins, walnuts and apricots. They are nutritionally dense and take longer to digest, thus keeping your appetite in check.
• Have grilled and roasted foods that stimulate the body to produce additional heat.
• Drink the juice of one stick of fresh haldi and one amla daily. These are available in winter and will protect you from infection.
• Avoid dry skin by drinking sufficient water and incorporating Vitamin E and Omega3 fatty acid-rich foods like nuts, fish oils and also seeds.
• Always oil your hair before washing to bind the moisture within. Condition it regularly with a good conditioner.

In India, where we experience a dip in temperature only for a few months, you should enjoy the season with warming foods like warm soups, hot curries, steamy broths, whole grains and roasted nuts that will provide loads of physical energy and warmth.

About the author: Dr Anjali Mukerjee is a nutritionist, researcher, columnist and author. She is also the founder-director of Health Total.