5 tips for Christmas dinner

The holidays are approaching and we can often stress about staying on our ketogenic diet and not cracking.

Here are five tips to get through this period serenely while staying keto.

1. The organization

Getting organized is the key to being able to eat keto during the holidays. Normally, we have an idea of ​​what will be served at the table beforehand, whether it's with family or friends. That way, we prepare in advance, and we bring adapted keto dishes. Appetizers are easy to manage: foie gras with keto bread or keto toast or crackers. Add olives, pickles, some oilseeds, or a small platter of cold cuts or seafood (oysters, prawns and langoustines, for example). All of this is compatible with a ketogenic diet. For the main course, a protein accompanied by cauliflower puree or risotto, or sautéed vegetables. Cheese is keto! And for dessert, either don't have any, or make a keto dessert prepared in advance.

If you organize yourself well, there is no reason why you cannot follow your ketogenic diet and still enjoy it.

2. Manage alcohol

The holidays are an occasion when we allow ourselves a little more alcohol. Who doesn't like to toast with a good glass of champagne or wine? It will therefore be necessary to favor dry wines and sparkling wines, which have a lower carbohydrate content, as well as cocktails based on spirits and without sugar (think of a mojito with Sukrin instead of cane sugar, a gin with sugar-free Schweppes, etc.). Be careful, in a ketogenic diet, tolerance to alcohol decreases, so if you start this eating mode, you must consider this aspect. Know that alcohol cannot be stored like carbohydrates or lipids, so it slows down the metabolism of other types of calories until it is broken down. In case of ketosis, alcohol stops the metabolism of fats to metabolize alcohol. Also, alcohol dehydrates. Each glass of alcohol requires eight glasses of water to be metabolized.

3. Talk to your loved ones

It may seem silly, but often in ketogenic diet we are afraid to talk to our loved ones, because people easily judge this way of eating. Even if we are sure of ourselves and our lifestyle, sometimes the insistence of others can make us crack. That is why it is best to be very clear and honest with the people with whom we are going to spend the holidays. Explain to them that it is a personal choice and that insisting that we eat a piece of cake or another food rich in sugar and carbohydrates does not help us. Offer alternatives to foods rich in carbohydrates and take the opportunity to introduce delicious keto recipes to your loved ones.

4. Fasting

If you overindulged during the holidays, even if you stay keto, consider fasting the next day. Intermittent fasting helps to empty glycogen stores efficiently and therefore burn fat as an energy source. It also helps control blood glucose and reduce insulin resistance and lower triglycerides; short fasts boost basal metabolism, thus allowing for greater weight loss, thanks to an increase in norepinephrine. Thus, after a day or evening of celebrations, fasting helps us rebalance the body to get back into ketosis and be able to enjoy the benefits of ketosis.

5. Cleanse the liver

The excesses of the holidays, whether in food or alcohol, overload the liver. An alternative, therefore, is to do a desmodium cure, starting before the holidays to have a liver in super functioning and continuing a week after to clean it well. This plant, native to West Africa, has hepatoprotective and antioxidant virtues. Desmodium will naturally protect the liver against toxic molecules (tobacco, alcohol), and promote its proper functioning and stimulate the elimination of toxins. Desmodium is available in pharmacies and the pharmacist will advise you on a cure according to your needs. Be careful, this does not replace a healthy lifestyle and it is not a free pass to drink or eat in excess.

Conclusion

The end of year celebrations are a time to enjoy with your loved ones. Proper organization will allow you to stay on a ketogenic diet. However, if there are any deviations, fasting and a desmodium cure are good alternatives. The main thing is to enjoy and not torture yourself if you slip up a little, the tools to get back on track are there :)