Important healthy-holiday-tips-for-teens.

Do you find yourself dipping into too much egg nog? Are you fighting back another cold? ‘This the season for all of us to fall into an unhealthy lifestyle.Fortunately, I can help us get back on

track.has just published 5 handy, yet simple ways teens can stay healthy this holiday season. As their authors put it, “… you can stay well and have a good time even if everyone else is falling apart.”
Here are their 5 tips to help you boost your body’s defenses:
1) Fend off germs.

Family gatherings, airports and travel stops, shopping malls, even the library during finals week they’re all places germs like to mingle. So protect yourself: Get a flu vaccine and wash your hands a lot. The holidays are all about sharing, but some things you’ll want to keep to yourself: forks, spoons, and drinking utensils. People can be contagious before they know they’re sick, so even just a sip from someone’s drink puts his or her germs in your body.
(2) Eat healthy and be merry.

Holiday foods can be high in calories and low on the nutrition you need to battle germs and boost energy. Make it a priority to eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day (choose the whole fruit instead of juice so you feel full longer and avoid added sugar). Carry an apple or a bag of baby carrots so you always have a healthy snack available. And don’t give your exercise routine a holiday. Exercise gives you energy in addition to burning calories.
(3) Chill.

“Can I afford it?” “Will it be perfect?” Even things we look forward to, like parties or gifts, can come with worries attached. If you feel stressed out, stop what you’re doing for just a moment. Take five deep breaths — all-the-way-down-to-your-belly deep. Concentrate on each breath as you inhale and exhale. Walk over to a window and look out at the sky. Then go back to what you were doing, realizing that holiday drama will happen. Just hope it leaves you with some great stories to tell.
(4)Beat the blues.

Holiday depression doesn’t just happen in songs. For some people, it’s seasonal, brought on by shorter days, longer nights, and colder weather. Other people are going through difficult life events like a breakup or a move. If you feel down, go outside, even if it’s cold where you live. Sunlight and exercise are great mood lifters. Try a seasonal activity to put you in the holiday spirit, like ice skating or neighborhood carol singing. And don’t hesitate to talk to someone you trust, like a parent or teacher, about how you’re feeling.

(5) proper sleep:

Getting 8½ to 9 hours of sleep a night during the holidays can help strengthen your immune system, give you more energy, and make you less vulnerable to stress.
Have a happy, healthy holiday season!