How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Every year you set goals for weight loss, only to feel defeated around the holidays. You can enjoy the foods you love without the pesky weight gain. To reduce the number on the scale, make some simple swaps when you cook your holiday meal.

Switch Canola Oil for Ghee when cooking your turkey

According to a recent study conducted on mice, just two tablespoons of canola oil per day caused weight gain. Most of Canola oil is produced from genetically modified crops. Canola oil produces high levels of inflammation in the body, which may lead to chronic health issues. It may also raise blood pressure and increase the likelihood of strokes. Overall, Canola oil affects all aspects of the body - from the brain, to the liver, and especially the heart. It is best to avoid it all together. 

Switch to ghee when cooking the holiday turkey. Ghee is a type of clarified butter that has been simmered and strained to remove all water. It also supports a healthy heart and cardiovascular system 

Use almond flour instead of wheat flour for your stuffing

Wheat flour is grown and modified in unhealthy ways and also lacks nutrients found in other flours. It also contains gluten, which is inflammatory. Wheat flour is also high in starch, which promotes weight gain. Consuming wheat flour is known to cause a spike in blood sugar.

A healthier alternative is almond flour. Almond flour is easy to digest, rich in nutrients, and can help keep cholesterol under control. It is also low on the glycemic index which can help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels better.   

Avoid using corn syrup found in a can of cranberry and replace it with maple syrup in homemade cranberry sauce

You may enjoy the taste of cranberry sauce from a can, but it contains corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which overall negatively affects one's health. Excessive amounts of sugar, including HFCS, will result in rapid weight gain. Also, consuming a lot of fructose will increase the risk of fatty liver disease. Over time, eating foods with corn syrup and HFCS will increase your risk for diabetes and other diseases. 

A simple alternative to canned cranberry sauce is making your own with maple syrup. Maple syrup is high in antioxidants and offers many nutrients not found in corn syrup such as riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. 

Swap refined sugar for coconut sugar in your pies

Consuming refined sugar not only increases your risk of obesity, it also increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. You can enjoy dessert without the added health risks. Simply switch to coconut sugar when baking. Coconut sugar has less calories than refined sugar and contains additional nutrients when compared to sugar.