How to stay in shape over Christmas: Tips from a royal nutritionist
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Gabriela Peacock, a nutritionist who counts royals and A-list celebrities in her clientele, has revealed her top tips for staying fit and healthy during the Christmas season.
The Czech-born former model has a reputation for being a no-judgement nutritionist, with her methods having been praised by high profile clients such as Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, model Jodie Kidd, and English actress Dame Joan Collins.
Gabriela was believed to have helped Princess Eugenie slim down ahead of her nuptials and Prince Harry lose a few pounds before his wedding day.
Princess Beatrice herself has said that she “really likes the GP (Gabriela Peacock) principles because they are effective and realistic guidelines to follow no matter what you are doing in the day”. Meanwhile, Ms Collins swears by Gabriela’s tip of “combining fruit with protein such as live yoghurt” to make her feel energised and fabulous throughout the day.
Here are some of her tips for staying in shape during the festive season:
Gabriela was sighted as a guest at two royal weddings. Photo from Instagram / @gabrielapeacock.
Line your stomach with protein
Gabriela’s first tip is to line your stomach with protein ahead of any night out.
She suggests having a healthy snack - whether it’s a boiled egg, a handful of nuts, even rye crackers - before going out for a boozy evening.
“You need something high in protein to line your stomach before you drink as the amino acids (the protein particles) will help your liver as it attempts to process the booze,” said the nutritionist.
“The protein will also help balance out your sugar levels, whereas if you have a lot of carb before drinking, you’re just adding sugar on top of sugar.”
Handle a hangover with balance
When dealing with a hangover, Gabriela suggests avoiding heavily fried foods and tons of sugar.
Instead, one can opt for sugary orange juice diluted with water for a healthier version. For snacks, a fried egg sandwich on brown bread is a better alternative.
Only eat within an eight-hour period
Gabriela’s self-written book ‘2 Weeks To Feeling Great’ advocates for intermittent fasting - a diet plan where people fast 16 hours a day (including sleep) and eat over eight hours.
“I find intermittent fasting is by far the best because you don't need to go to the shops and buy special food or pay a lot of money or pay someone,” she said.
“What I love about it is just about when you're eating and how you're eating, and there are little tips around it.”
“We also know intermittent fasting is a very, very healthy weight loss process,” said Gabriela.
Start taking supplements
She also shared that liver-supporting supplements are an ‘easy’ way to give the body a helping hand and provide support during the festive season.
“Put them somewhere you’ll see them like on your desk, and take them every day,” said Gabriela, who recommends the tip to all of her clients.
Never drink coffee on an empty stomach
Gabriela advises against drinking coffee on an empty stomach, especially in the mornings.
As she explains, caffeine intake causes your blood sugars to spike, leaving a person ‘more likely’ to reach for a carb-heavy meal later in the day.
She instead suggests replacing the heavily caffeinated drink with an antioxidant-rich green tea.
You now know what to do ahead of the festive season, folks! And always remember to drink alcohol in moderation.