AOL

You can have too much of a good thing at Christmas

If the stresses and strains of Christmas have left you feeling more "bah humbug" than goodwill to all men, it could be time to slow down!

Crowded shopping centres, rich party food and too much alcohol can quickly take their toll on your health. From tummy troubles, to hangovers and flatulence, read on to discover the most common seasonal ailments and how to cure them.

Christmas stuffing
The average Briton puts on about 12 pounds over the Christmas season. Is it any wonder? A traditional Christmas turkey-dinner contains around 1,300 calories - and that's not including pudding and drinks.

You can still enjoy a traditional dinner - just fill up on lean turkey, which is naturally low in fat (one gram of fat per ounce of meat) and go easy on the roast potatoes and pudding! Also watch how much you drink, a glass of wine contains 85 calories per glass, a glass of champagne 95 calories.

Drinking water is key to minimising hangover pain

Boozy nights
If you know you'll be drinking, eat a good meal before you go out. Pace yourself and have a soft drink between every alcoholic one or drink white wine sodas.

Dehydration is the main cause of that hungover feeling, so drink plenty of water before you go to sleep, and keep some near the bed.

If you can face food, go for beans on toast or porridge with banana. Porridge oats neutralise acidity and are easy to digest, while banana will slowly raise your blood sugar level.

Tummy troubles
Rich meals, smoking, spicy food and alcohol all cause excess acid to be produced, which irritates the stomach lining and can cause indigestion.

If you're suffering, take an antacid, get plenty of rest and avoid fizzy drinks. To avoid food poisoning make sure you cook the turkey thoroughly and finish up any leftovers within two days.

Don't wash the outside of the turkey, as this will only splash bacteria and infect other surfaces and kitchen utensils. Simply cooking the turkey properly will kill all the bacteria on the skin. Also avoid putting stuffing inside the bird itself, as this will mean it cooks less effectively.

Festive flatulence
Gaining a few extra pounds isn't the only nasty side effect of rich food and constant snacking. Excess wind is a common problem over the festive season, with Brussels sprouts being the worst culprits when it comes to Christmas day flatulence.

Spicy food and fermented drinks can also to blame for bad-smelling wind. If you're worried, cut back on the amount of beans, curries and beer in your diet and give up chewing gum, which can also cause excess wind.

Christmas shopping can be exhausting

Exhaustion
Busy shopping centres, extra chores, late nights, booze and rich food - is it any wonder the run up to Christmas can leave us feeling more miserable than merry?

If you find yourself feeling increasingly irritable, overwhelmed or depressed, you could be suffering from exhaustion.

Keep your to-do lists manageable and make sure you book in a few early nights to catch up on rest. Camomile tea or herbal remedies, such as Nytol, can help if you're having trouble sleeping.