New Year’s resolutions usually revolve around losing weight, exercising more, and eating healthier. Is it because the New Year is a logical time to start something new, or is it because the holiday feasts and parties created that need?

In a previous article, we talked about how to keep health in mind while eating during the holidays. But what if you didn’t do so well and you now have the New Year’s health slump?

Holiday meals don’t automatically create nutritional deficiencies, but common seasonal eating patterns can increase the risk of certain nutrient gaps.

Here’s what typically happens during the holiday season and why, plus some recommendations on how to regain your health and vigor.

Potential Nutrient Gaps Created Around the Holidays

Fiber Deficiency

Holiday meals often feature refined carbs (white rolls, pastries, stuffing) and fewer high-fiber foods.  This can create sluggish digestion, constipation, and blood-sugar swings.

Add vegetables, beans, nuts, or fruit to meals.

Low Magnesium

Magnesium-rich foods (greens, legumes, nuts) tend to appear less often compared to high-sugar and high-fat dishes. This deficiency can create muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, and irritability.

Low Potassium

Potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes with skin, beans, and leafy greens) may be replaced with salty, processed items.  This can create increased blood pressure, bloating, and electrolyte imbalance.

Vitamin D Dip (Seasonal rather than meal-based)

Shorter days and less sun exposure in winter can lead to lower vitamin D levels. Holiday meals don’t help much because they rarely include vitamin D–rich foods. This results in potentially lower energy, weaker immunity and mood changes. 

Low Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Holiday meals lean heavily on meat and creamy dishes, not fatty fish or walnuts.  This can result in increased inflammation, mood changes, and brain fog

Low Water Intake

Alcohol, salty foods, and sweet beverages may replace plain water during this time of the year, resulting in dehydration, fatigue, headaches, and digestive issues.

What Can You Do?

Start paying more attention to the food you eat after the holidays. Eat whole foods, not processed foods, and add vegetables, beans, nuts, meat, and fruit to your meals. Eat more fiber sources and drink more water. 

Nutritional supplements have the potential to help build back your holiday dip in health.

B vitamins, Vitamin D, and a multivitamin can be added to your diet, as well as electrolytes, magnesium, and any needed potassium supplements. 

The best nutritional supplements are food-based, as the body recognizes this nutrition and can assimilate it. We recommend Camel Milk as a superior nutritional supplement.

Camel milk is a whole food and provides a comprehensive range of nutrition that the body needs to be nourished, energized, and function at its optimum.

See more information and ingredients of Camel Milk at Camelicious USA.