Yummie Mummie

An important habit to ponder upon....how many days out of 7 do you reach for the vino glass? The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that we have at LEAST 2 alcohol free days each week. This is important as alcohol is a toxin to the body which must be broken down by the liver to be excreted. This places a lot of pressure on the liver, in amongst all the other work it has to do, so giving it a COMPLETE rest for at least 2 days is highly important, to maintain our health in the long term. Damage to the liver is irreversible and overtime if there is significant damage, it can mean significant implications for our health and quality of life.

Many of us lead such fast paced and stressful lives that the beckoning of the bottle can sometimes seem too hard to resist. For some, it is the ultimate unwind, the only time in the day you can feel truly relaxed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a good drink, in fact I quite enjoy it myself! The key, however, is to assess if our drinking is safe and within healthy recommendations, and perhaps considering the “why” for drinking.

If you absolutely need a drink to unwind, feel at ease, and perhaps escape reality, then that is something to look at. Finding alternative means of dealing with stress, uncomfortable situations and feelings, and also of unwinding, is very important. Some techniques that have been met with success for a few of my clients include:

• Leaving runners at the front door and pounding the pavement as soon as they get in from work. This lets off a hell of a lot of steam, clears the head and also, believe it or not, refreshes energy levels and provides that extra “Spark” to get through the evening chores- dinner, washing, cleaning, etc before you collapse into bed
• Placing a few drops of lavender or lime oil onto a tissue, breathing it in, taking 30-60seconds to allow it to induce its calming/energising effect, then tucking this under the bra strap to provide instant relief through the day/evening
• Burning oils/incense/fragrant candles when you come home from work. Immerse yourself in aromas that make you happy, uplift and vitalise.
• Pouring a non-alcoholic drink (e.g. soda water with lime) into their usual wine glass to make it seem and feel as though they are having their usual evening drink

If you need more motivation, consider that just three 150ml glasses of wine a week over the year can add an extra 62,400kJ to your calorie intake which equates to 1.7kg worth of extra body fat! And how much in $ does the habit cost? Add it up.

Finally, for healthy drinking remember that a “standard” drink is only 100ml of wine - not the 300ml we usually pour ourselves or receive when out on the town. Measure this out with water, pour into your usual glass and see what it looks like.

For more ideas or information, email me at bridget@newleafnutrition.com.au

Whether you're looking for time-saving tips for meals, inspiration for the menu, healthy weight loss tips, or a bit of empathy, you'll feel more empowered to 'Turn Over a New Leaf' with our nutrition expert, BridgetJane of http://www.newleafnutrition.com.au.

• 2 September 08
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