Smash Party Season

The pressure (and constant partying) that hits at this time of year can be tough on your body. Here’s how to have fun and still come out shining

- Georgie Lane-Godfrey

1 Fight flu

Your new power breakfast? Butternut squash. Thanks to its ridiculously high levels of beta-carotene (which is then converted into vitamin A), as well as vitamin C, it’s one big immunity boosting, liver-supporting, collagen pumping powerhouse. Steam it and spread it onto gut-friendly sourdough, then top with nuts and seeds for a protein hit. Add a little maple syrup to sweeten.

2 Train smarter

The easiest way to keep up your fitness when you’re doing more bar work than barre work? HIIT. Research* has shown that these workouts (which last around half a minute, with you working at maximum capacity) have the same heart-health and muscle tone benefits as longer, moderate intensity exercise workouts, even when participants only exercised for seven minutes. Do three sessions a week in December and you’ll be ready to gym it hard again in the New Year.

3 Seek out sunshine

While the sun may have long departed, you still need a constant hit of vitamin D. Why? It’s a bone strengthener – meaning there’s less chance of breaking something when you fall out of that club at 3am (bonus) – and topped-up levels also reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections. Try Better You Dlux 3,000 Vitamin D Oral Spray (£7.99, Holland & Barrett), while the sun’s in hibernation. Sob.

4 Yeast it up