HANDLE YOUR HOLIDAY HORMONES

Powerful chemicals in your body can make (or break) your festive mood, so get a fix on them – fast

Does Christmas feel like a rollercoaster ride? Yes, it’s joyful to spend time with family, but it can be overwhelming. It’s no wonder only 42%* of us find it relaxing.

But there are also biological reasons for why the festive period can feel so unbalanced. ‘Emotions run high at Christmas,’ says psychologist Dr Meg Arroll. ‘And in response to stress, excitement and indulgence, our neurotransmitters can go into overdrive – with positive and negative effects on the body and mind.’ So let’s look at the major hormones at play and how to harness them for the best benefits.

The stress hormone

Is it even the festive season if you don’t feel frantic?

Our ‘fight or flight’ response gets tasks done and powers us through until January, but an endless supply of stress hormones can be damaging, says medical herbalist Dr Chris Etheridge. Continual surges of adrenaline and cortisol affect almost every tissue in the body and change brain chemistry. Being able to handle feelings of being overwhelmed is the key to staying healthy this season.

MANAGE IT

LIMIT THE SWEET STUFF

‘A rise in cortisol increases appetite and causes you to reach for sugary foods,’ says dietician Sophie Medlin.

STRETCH AWAY STRESS ‘

Yoga is proven to reduce cortisol levels, blood pressure and heart rate,’ says mindful expert Hope Bastine.

The feel-good hormone