CDear Doctor Almondo,
why does the body seem to “send more signals” than usual during the Christmas holidays, as if it were more difficult to ignore it? Can nutrition have an impact?
Doctor Federica Almondo responds
Specialist in Food Science, trained at Dietology and Obesity Center of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milanthe Doctor Federica Almondo it is a point of reference in personalized nutrition, preventive medicine and anti-aging pathways.
After founding and directing Cerva 16 – Nutrition & Anti-aging Center, he created a STUDIO ALMONDO – NUTRITION & LONGEVITYa place where science, technology and a human approach meet to create tailor-made programs. It deals with tools such as genetic tests (DNA), assessments of the state of the intestinal microbiota, analysis of oxidative stress, body composition, indirect calorimetry. But also ANS Analysiss to build highly personalized diets with approach holistic and scientifically validatedsuitable for even the most complex needs.
With excellent training and skills ranging from nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics to nutraceutics, metabolomics and epigeneticsAlmondo is also recognized for her work on intestinal health, menopause, chronic stress management and optimization of psycho-physical energy. Particular attention to ketogenic therapya nutritional approach now totally validated by scientific literature such as effective intervention in many complex pathologiesincluding type 2 diabetes, PCOS, fibromyalgia and lipedema and much more.
Here is his answer to the question.
Doctor Federica Almondo.
Why does the body send signals at Christmas?
Because at Christmas two things happen at the same time: they slow down the pace And they markedly change our diet. This combination can make body signals that we tend to ignore throughout the year more evident.
In daily life we are often in a continuous activation mode – commitments, deadlines, quick and repetitive meals, which lead many people to reduce listening to internal signals. The body continues to send them, but the brain pretends not to hear them, because at that moment it is more functional. It is no coincidence that in conditions such as obesity there is a frequent difficulty in recognizing one’s internal signals, including hunger and satiety.
What happens during the holidays
During the holidays The rhythms and way of eating change: less regular hours, larger or closer meals, greater consumption of sugars, alcohol and different food combinations than usual. In many people, this makes bodily signals more perceptible.
From a biological point of view, three main factors come into play:
- Nervous system
When hyperactivation of the autonomic nervous system decreases, the brain may become more sensitive to internal signals. Neurophysiological studies show that in conditions of lower stress, internal body perception increases (interoception), making sensations such as hunger, satiety, tiredness or heaviness, mood changes, etc. more evident. - Intestine and nutrition
The intestine responds quickly to dietary changes. Even brief variations in the quality and composition of meals can modulate the microbiota, intestinal motility, visceral sensitivity and gut-brain communicationwith noticeable effects on swelling, energy level, mood and feelings of slowing down. - Greater attention to the body
When we are less distracted and less oriented towards “having to do things”, the brain can dedicate more resources to processing body signals. Sensations that are compensated for or ignored during the year and become more evident.
Is it the body that “gets worse”?
It is important to clarify that this is not a sign that the body is “getting worse”. In most cases, the body during the holidays and therefore also at Christmas reacts more visibly to different food rhythms and stimuliin a context where it is simply listened to more.
The parties therefore function as one biological magnifying glassnot as a direct cause of discomfort. The signals that emerge should not be silenced or fought, but interpreted: they are useful information for understanding how our body responds to changes – even those that come from food.