Christmas in balance: how to enjoy without feeling weighed down and arrive in January feeling good

Some dinners can't be explained by calories. They're explained by conversation. By reunions. With that glass "that wasn't going to fall." With the plate served by someone who loves you, and suddenly, You say yes even though your body was already warning you.

And here's the good news: you don't need to live Christmas in fear of the menu. What you need is strategy. A way to enjoy yourself without ending up in that state of... “I’ve gone too far, but I don’t know exactly when.”

Because when digestion is disrupted, it's not just the stomach that suffers: It also lowers your energy, changes your mood, and brings that mental fog that accompanies you. until the next day.

This article is a practical guide—without rigidity or punishments—so you can celebrate And at the same time, to reach January with a sense of balance. We'll talk about two common allies. at this time of year — Betaine and R-Glucose — but above all something more important: how to give the body the conditions to do its job well.

Digestion doesn't start in the stomach, it starts with your rhythm

The first “digestive decision” is not what you eat, but how fast you eat. Digestion begins in the mouth: chewing, salivating, preparing.

When you eat very quickly, your body interprets it as being in a hurry. And when you're in a hurry, digestion is usually slower. Chewing more and slowing down is associated with changes in satiety and eating habits. in which the body regulates appetite.

It's not about becoming a Zen monk in front of your plate. It's very simple: making your body not have to chase you.

An idea that works: for the first five spoonfuls, think "slowly". Only at the beginning. Often, with that, the rest of the food falls into place.

Arrive with genuine hunger (and not with emotional emptiness)

There is a typical pre-Christmas mistake: "Since there's a big dinner tonight, I'll hardly eat today." It sounds logical, but it usually goes wrong.

You arrive ravenously hungry, you eat quickly, you eat too much without realizing it, Mix more things together and digestion becomes a mess.

What usually works best is arriving with real hunger, not biological anxiety. Eating normally during the day—without compensating—means that at dinner you will have greater ability to choose, more satiety signal and less involuntary binge eating.

Christmas doesn't need a punished body. It needs a prepared body.

The order of the dish matters more than it seems.

Another elegant strategy: start with what feels good to you. In practice, this usually means starting with protein and vegetables. (or as close as possible on that table) and leave the treats for the end.

Not for moral reasons. For physiological reasons.

When you start with the densest and most nutritious foods, you tend to stabilize your appetite. You eat with more control. And when the treat finally comes, you enjoy it more. because you no longer come with urgency.

R-Glucose: a support before heavy meals

If you already know a large meal is coming—and one especially rich in carbohydrates—, There are people who benefit from preparing the land.

Mulberry extracts rich in 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), such as Reducose®, They have been studied for their ability to modulate the postprandial response, acting on the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.

Simply put: it's not "eating without consequences". It's so that the body doesn't experience the post-meal period like a roller coaster.

At Longevitas, one of the allies we use in these contexts is R-Glucose , designed to support carbohydrate metabolism at specific times.

Betaine: taking care of the "digestive fire" when the food is heavy

Betaine HCl is used in some contexts to support gastric acidity when there are particularly heavy digestions or very high protein meals.

When the stomach works with low acidity, protein digestion It can become slower or incomplete, generating a feeling of heaviness.

When used correctly, betaine helps create a more efficient digestive environment: Less blockage, more lightness, and a better experience after eating.

The prudent rule is to start gently, observe tolerance and use it as a specific tool, not as a daily crutch.

Pauses: the invisible trick that most changes the outcome

Often the heaviness doesn't come from what you eat, but from how you combine it with other foods.

Snacks, starter, main course, dessert, toast… and then something else. Without breaks, digestion loses its order.

Put your cutlery down for two minutes, talk, breathe. That pause sends back a key signal: "How am I doing?"

The 10–15 minute walk: the classic that works

A gentle walk after eating is one of the most underrated strategies Christmas. It's not glamorous, but it works.

Walking after meals can improve glycemic control and relieve the feeling of a full stomach and drowsiness.

You don't need to do sports. You need to get your digestive system moving. A leisurely stroll with conversation. The end.

Hydrate intentionally (and not as penance)

Alternating alcohol with water, broth, or herbal teas helps to reduce swelling, dehydration, and the next day's discomfort.

A simple rule: a glass of water between drinks and another one before going to sleep.

Listening to "that's enough" without losing the enjoyment

Enjoying yourself doesn't mean finishing everything.

Asking yourself halfway through your meal whether you're continuing because of hunger or inertia It's a way to take care of yourself without giving up pleasure.

The next day: no punishment, just return

Christmas isn't ruined by a dinner party. It gets ruined by what you do with the guilt afterwards.

Return to your normal routine: simple food, some movement, hydration and rest.

Christmas isn't about perfection. It's about balance.

Longevitas, your Vital Supplement.