Do Not Binge During Seollal
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Seollal, or lunar New Year's Day, is just around the corner, with many people set to greet the holiday with family and loved ones. However, people often feel more exhausted after the holiday.
Here are some tips from Samsung Medical Center doctors for your well being.
When eating, make sure you are doing so in a healthy way. Eat a variety of foods in small portions, Cho Yeong-yeon, head of the hospital's nutrition team, said.
Ensure that what you eat is low in calories and fresh.
1.
Don't binge: No matter how healthy some foods may be, overeating is never better than not eating at all. Eat less and in small portions.
2.
Eat vegetables: Lots of holiday foods are meaty and/or fatty. Eat vegetables instead.
3.
Beware of fruit: One may think fruit is healthy and it is but fructose can lift blood sugar levels and make you gain weight, just like ordinary sugar. Keep your fruit intake in check and don't juice it.
4.
Do not fry; boil. When cooking meat, be sure to remove fat and boil slightly before frying.
5.
Do not use ordinary oil with salad. Use soy sauce or vinegar instead.
Tips for Drivers
Traffic jams tire out drivers and passengers. Dr. Lee Jung-kwon advises drivers to get out of the car once or twice every hour and breathe fresh air and do some stretching.
When driving, sit up straight to decrease stress on the back and spine.
Beware of air conditioning. Air inside the car is quite dry and unclean because of the heater. Take some bottles of water wipe children's faces with wet cotton and open the window from time to time.
If you have a patient traveling with you, carry a national health insurance certificate. If not, be sure to ask for a special document for retroactive coverage.
Those suffering from heart disease or ear disorders traveling by plane should consult doctors before traveling. Those who have had open surgery 10 days before a scheduled flight should not fly.
For those suffering from diabetes, maintain correct blood sugar levels. Take chocolate or candy and water to be sure.
6.
Women who are less than three months pregnant or over eight months pregnant should refrain from traveling, especially by plane.