Last Updated on 27 February 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
We all like to indulge at times, including when we relax and share Christmas and New Year Celebrations with Family and Friends. Overindulging in Grandma’s Pavlova, your Aunties Fruit cake and your Mum’s Christmas pudding with Ice Cream are just a few of the delicious temptations that will test your commitment to not overeating. However, while a little bit of what you fancy is unlikely to do much harm in the long run, consistent or extreme overeating of unhealthy foods poses huge risks to your health and wellbeing.
The festive season can be very tough for those of us who can be guilty of overindulging or overeating at Christmas while enjoying such a special time of the year. Indeed, according to a study of British eating habits, the average Christmas dinner is a whopping 5,200 calories. To put this into perspective, if a person ate this way every day, they would be an astonishing 140KG heavier within a year. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the overeating at Christmas binge is often followed up by a hardcore gym regime and a rather miserable January.
Overeating at Christmas. Is the binge-diet cycle a good idea?
We probably don’t need to tell you that overeating can lead to weight gain, obesity and a whole raft of associated illnesses such as gastro, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The main question, then, is whether your health is affected when weight put on through overeating is subsequently lost.
Ultimately, the answer is yes. Even a single episode of overeating can have consequences that go beyond embarrassing gas and bloating. According to research from the Harvard School of Public Health, overeating can have a huge impact on your metabolism and ability to produce insulin. This means that, even if they start eating better after a period of binging, you will find it more difficult to lose weight than in the past.
On top of these unfortunate effects on metabolism, the simple fact is that overeating causes increased blood flow to the intestines, meaning that other bodily functions are impacted. Ever wondered why you feel slow, sluggish and tired after a big meal? This effect can be put down to decreased blood flow to the brain. In this way, one of the best ways to stay feeling fresh, alert and lively during festive events is to avoid eating too much and to be kind to your body.
So how should the festive period be approached?
Many of us feel pressure to overindulge during the holidays, particularly if our friends and family are doing so. However, it is possible to enjoy Christmas and New Year without having to pay for it afterwards. To make sure your festive days are healthy and guilt-free, be sure to eat a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of water. This will help you regulate your appetite and ensure you know when you are full during main meals.
It may also be a good idea to ensure there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available at every meal. Indeed, fibre is important for digestion and appetite regulation, and the nutrients in fruit and vegetables will help you feel fresh and rejuvenated every day!
If you do find yourself in need of some help and guidance after the Festive Season, you may like to consider getting back on track with our Naturopaths, Clinical Nutritionist or Dietitian. You can make the New Year a “Really New Year.”
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Noosa
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Natural Therapies Brisbane
Therapists Brisbane
Relevant Naturopath links
- How Naturopathy Can Help You Recover Your Health
- Seeing a Naturopath: The Ultimate Guide
- Naturopaths
- Guide to Seeing a Children’s Naturopath
- The 6 Naturopathic Principles that Protect a Naturopath’s Patients
- ADHD Naturopath
- Brisbane Wellbeing
- Natural Dispensary Brisbane
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Gut Health
- Naturopath for Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- SIBO Test Brisbane
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Brisbane
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
- Gut Microbiome Testing Australia
- Gut Health Test Australia
- Probiotics for Thrush
Hormone Health and Thyroid Issues
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- 3 Lifestyle Changes Women Need to Make After 40
- Naturopathic Thyroid Specialist Near Me
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
- Test Cortisol at Home
- Cortisol Test Australia
- How to Get Hormone Levels Checked in Australia
- Blood Analysis Cost in Australia
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- Heavy Metal Detox for Kids
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
- Pyrrole Disorder
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
- Menopause Clinic Near Me
- What is Menopause?
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
- Men’s Health Supplements
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
- Full Genetic Testing Australia
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
- How to Get an Allergy Test in Australia
Weight Loss
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain? (IBS)
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
- Clinical Nutrients
- Mood & Food
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
Exhaustion / Tired
