Teetotally awesome

Here's another reason to avoid alcohol over the holiday season it can make you overeat. According to a study from the Department of Psychology at the University of Sussex, UK, moderate alcohol consumption before a meal can lead to a short-term increase in food intake. Drinking a few toasts to the holiday season can suppress certain mechanisms in the body that are responsible for appetite control that can lead to overeating .

Don't forget that the high carbohydrate content in alcohol can also lead to fast weight gain with beer, martinis, and port wine being high on the list. So instead of reaching for that second or third glass of champagne (also high in carbs) and parking yourself next to the buffet table, switch to carbonated water or fruit juices and work the crowd instead. It'll do your social life and your waistline a lot of good.