5 Surprising Festive Foods Which Are Good For You

Dec 26, 2011
Anna Jones

Festive foods can be good for you - iStockPhoto

Christmas season is in full swing and the diet may have to wait until January, but don't worry - some festive foods can actually be good for your health.

Christmas is all about overindulgence and the Christmas dinner forms the core of the celebrations when it comes to eating. Which is why for many, the festive season can be a dangerous time of year. But many festive foods are actually very nutritious and can bring a range of benefits to the body – just take a look at these examples.

Mulled wine

Mulled red wine may not be as bad as you think. Red wine is known to have lots of antioxidants which are good at helping to fight off free radicals which can damage skin cells. The antioxidant compound which is found in the skin of seeds and grapes is called resveratrol.

According to Lindsay Brown, a co-author of a study on resveratrol entitled 'The Biological Responses to Resveratrol and Other Polyphenols from Alcoholic Beverages' cited on OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com, "The therapeutic potential of resveratrol, firstly in cancer chemoprevention and then later for cardiprotection, has stimulated many studies on the possible mechanisms of action. Further indications for resveratrol have been developed, including the prevention of age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease." So red wine may have more benefits than you realise and could even be helpful in the prevention of the ageing process!

Cranberry sauce

Dieters have been wary of sauces for many reasons. Not only are many laden with salt or sugar, they can add an extra load of calories to a dish which was otherwise still delectable on the palette. The good news is that when it comes to cranberry sauce, it’s a powerhouse of nutrients. Not only is this festive favourite great with Christmas dinner, but cranberries are also a great source of Vitamin C, dietary fibre and manganese.

They also contain anti-inflammatory benefits, which is one of the reasons why cranberries are so good at preventing urinary tract infections. According to WHfoods.com, “It’s the phytonutrients in cranberry that are especially effective in lowering our risk of unwanted inflammation, and virtually all of the phytonutrient categories represented in cranberry are now known to play a role.” Just another great reason to have some cranberry sauce on your stuffing sandwiches!

Christmas pudding/mince pies

It can be surprising that puddings and pies can actually be good for you. It is in fact the dried fruits in the pudding and mince pies (and not the pastry or additional sauces) which is beneficial. Dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currants are a dense source of nutrients, great for an energy boost, full of fibre, they contain the polyphenol antioxidant resveratrol, flavonoid compounds such as tararic acid, tannins and catechins which aid in laxative action.

Raisins, currants and sultanas are also high in anthocyanins, which Nutrition-and-you.com states have been found “to have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities.” So not only are they a great source of nutrients, they can also protect against allergies and even against cancerous cells developing.

Chestnuts

Nuts have a bad image as being high in fat and it doesn’t help when they come covered in salt. But chestnuts can be cholesterol free and a great source of dietary fibre, which makes them a good choice for people trying to lose weight and as they are relatively low on sodium, this makes them an ideal option for people who have heart problems.

Delicious when served with your Christmas dinner, mixed into a festive prawn cocktail or simply made into a soup, chestnuts contain a lot of health benefits. According to Health24.com, these are, “Vitamin C (helps the body resist infection and speeds the healing of wounds), thiamine (enhances energy and promotes normal appetite) and riboflavin (important role in metabolising food).” So don’t miss out – put some chestnuts on your Christmas leftovers and you could be doing your body a whole lot of good.

Roast potatoes

Potatoes have a bad reputation – most probably because of the junk food or comfort food image that has grown out of the potato’s popularity, which has ensured it’s been fried into chips and covered in salt or butter somewhere along the line. But the good news is that potatoes are good for you, especially if eaten roasted lightly in olive oil.

Not only are potatoes high in Vitamin C, they’re also packed with Vitamin B6 – essential for the building of cells and healthy brain cell and nervous system activity. WHfoods.com states that “Vitamin B6 is involved in more than 100 enzymatic reactions. Enzymes are proteins that help chemical reactions take place, so Vitamin B6 is active virtually everywhere in the body.” Vitamin B6 can also provide cardiovascular protection and play a key role in the breakdown of glycogen, which helps with athletic performance and endurance. Another great reason to have another round of roast potatoes!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.