As joyous as it may be, the holiday season can be quite stressful with so much shopping and party prepping to get done, so we asked our alternative health expert, Bryce Wylde, to share his top ways to stay healthy and stress-free through December. For each of the common health concerns over the holidays, Bryce suggests both a technique or practice, as well as a natural supplement option.

For holiday weight management:

Bryce recommends trying the Japanese practice “Hara Hachi-Bu”, which is to only eat until you’re 70% full. By stopping eating when you’re still a little bit hungry, you’ll be sure to not overeat. For a supplement option, Bryce suggests using a fibre supplement such as psyllium husk (in the form of bars) or PGX. By taking these 30 minutes before eating a big holiday meal, you’ll feel fuller, faster.

For holiday stress reduction:

Studies show that by giving to others (whether it’s your time, a helping hand, a monetary donation or even just by listening to a friend’s problems), you will decrease your stress levels by elevating GABA and noradrenaline (the feel-good hormones). For a supplement option, Bryce recommends taking adaptogens, which are herbs that lower our stress levels, such as cortisol and epinephrine. You can have your cortisol levels tested, and if they are found to be high, Bryce suggests taking Rhodiola rosea, a researched, studied and proven herb that effectively reduces cortisol.

For holiday energy empowerment:

An easy way to boost your energy at home is to start your day with contrast showers: for a total of 3 minutes, take a shower where you alternate between 30 seconds of hot water and 30 seconds of cold water, always ending on cold. Bryce says that this will give you tremendous energy and a circulation boost to start your day. For a supplement option, Bryce recommends taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine, which fuels your mitochondria and metabolism.

For curing jet lag:

Bryce recommends doing regular exercises while you’re on the plane to keep your blood flowing properly. You can do simple squats in the aisle either just outside the washroom or at the bulkhead on most planes – try to do these once an hour. Bryce also suggests taking melatonin, a common supplement for fighting jet lag, but he notes that you must take it at the right time. To take melatonin correctly, take it 30 minutes before your intended sleep time in your new time zone.

For healing a hangover:

To fight a hangover before it starts, drink 1 glass of water for every glass of alcohol, and make sure you’re eating while you drink, too. If you’re really feeling the pain the next morning, try mixing together the following ingredients for Bryce’s hangover elixir to help replace your lost electrolytes:

– 1L water

– Half a squeezed lemon or equivalent lemon juice

– 1/4 tsp salt

– 1 tbsp black strap molasses

– 1 99mg crushed potassium gluconate

Courtesy Bryce Wylde, www.wyldeabouthealth.com