Holiday health: Keep "dessert" from becoming "disaster"

Folklore has it that the average adult gains 5 pounds over the holidays, but recent studies have shown that total is closer to 1-2 pounds. Nonetheless, if the thought of stepping on the scale from now through New Year's leaves you less than happy, don't despair -- incremental changes can help you keep dessert from turning into disaster.

As a health and well-being organization, WesleyLife is about holistic wellness, not diet culture. The only truly successful weight-loss method is sustainable, and how to achieve that sustainability looks different to each person. If you want to improve your health by losing some weight, the "how" is up to you after you've done your research.

But here's something to think about today: People in the Blue Zones, areas of the world where people typically live longer than the average lifespan, have specific ways of eating to help ensure well-being. Take a look at them below. 

• Go easy on meat, substituting it with alternate sources of protein. Blue Zones centenarians eat about 2 ounces of meat or less about 5 times a month.
• Reduce the amount of dairy you consume.
• Consume no more than 28 grams of sugar a day.
• Limit eggs to no more than 3 per week.
• Go easy on fish; consume fewer than 3 ounces 3 times a week.
• Snack on nuts -- 1-2 handfuls a day.
• Drink mostly water, with coffee, tea, and wine in moderation.
• Beans are your friend! Eat up to a cup a day.
• Focus on whole foods -- single-ingredient, raw, cooked, ground, or fermented, and not highly processed.
• Aim for a diet that is, overall, 95%-100% plant-based.
• Eat with others as often as possible. The social aspects of eating are important, too. 

These may seem like lofty goals; why not focus on one a week, or even one a month? Change is tough -- but possible.

As we prepare to begin 2022, here's to our best health ever!