Eat, Drink and Be Merry...But Don't Overdo It

‘Tis truly the season to be jolly. But while this season is light on the spirit, it can be heavy on the gut, says Dr. Sriram Padmanabhan, chief of cardiology at Franklin Square Hospital Center. He helps put things in perspective as we go into the holiday season.

Winter weight gain is all too common, and it seems we’ve lost our bearings when it comes to our physical well being. Obesity is a major public health problem. It’s linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Add to this a lack of physical exercise and we’ve got a potent mixture for poor health.

But we can take responsibility for our health through our lifestyle choices. It starts with being aware—of what we put into our mouths daily, of how we spend our leisure time, and of our personal responsibility for our own health.                

Let’s take our diets for example.

In supersizing our portions, we’ve supersized ourselves. Weight is a simple equation of calories taken in versus calories spent. Nothing more. My suggestion for weight loss is not the diet du jour but something much simpler—portion control. Use smaller plates, take a break before going for seconds, and don’t go hungry for long periods of time. This holiday season, don’t go to parties on an empty stomach. Eat something healthy beforehand and just graze on the party goodies.

The other requirement for healthy living is physical activity, yet less than 25 percent of us exercise. Exercise can reduce weight, blood pressure and sugar levels. It tones muscles, maintains strength, boosts immunity and can relieve depression.

It need not be prolonged, strenuous or boring to be effective. Even 10 minutes of continuous walking—brisk enough to make you short of breath—3 times a day makes a difference.

Let’s commit to enjoy the holidays responsibly. Begin with small steps. Cut back on food portions bit-by-bit. Make an effort to be more physically active. This commitment has to come from within and has to be reinforced daily.

After all, we are our own best advocates for healthy living. Remember that your health is your wealth and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

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Let Franklin Square Hospital Center help you stay healthy this holiday season. Join us for a cooking demo!

Healthy Holiday Eating
Monday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. Fee: $10

Register for the Healthy Holiday Eating Cooking Demo