A guilt free festive feast

As you knock back your third glass of champagne, dig into your fatty Christmas roast and slather your pudding with a bit too much brandy butter, take heart. There is now scientific research to prove that port can protect you from cancer, cheese fights dental decay and being lazy enhances your memory. So kill your guilt this Christmas and read on to find out how much good it could be doing...

DRINK

Alcohol has a wide range of health benefits: not only do three to four units a day lower cholesterol levels and stress, but U.S. researchers studying 46,000 men found that those consuming two alcoholic drinks a day had 36pc less risk of developing diabetes. However, alcohol does more than that, depending on which drink you choose, you could do your health a range of favours.

Champagne

Red wine has stolen the glory for protecting arteries and the heart, but scientists have found champagne is also rich in antioxidant grape compounds which help prevent plaque forming on artery walls. A U.S. study has found people who mainly drink champagne have more lung capacity than those who mainly drink red wine.

Cider

British researchers analysing the components of cider have discovered it might be as good for you as a cup of green tea. Scrumpy is a rich source of vitamins C, E and beta-carotene - all of which protect the body from age-related degeneration.

Beer

A regular pint of Guinness might stop you going blind, contains the vitamin B equivalent of several helpings of green vegetables, and could enhance your sex life.

Canadian and the U.S. researchers have found that beer, especially darker ales and stouts, may reduce the incidence of cataracts by as much as 50 pc. Ales are a rich source of antioxidants which appear to protect the eyes against age-related damage. Dark beers also contain high levels of the B vitamin folate - otherwise found in green leafy vegetables - which lowers
levels of homocysteine, a compound linked to arterial clogging.

Prague-based Dr Pavel Zemek claims men who drink two beers a day can stave off impotence. Beer can have a 'powerful effect' to stop the arteries becoming blocked, one causes of erectile dysfunction - although too much soon negates the positive effects.

Red wine and port

Red wine and port keep your arteries clear and could protect you from cancer. Rich in flavonoids which protect blood vessels and the heart from fatty deposits, red wine, in moderation, could do far more than save you from a heart attack and stroke. A British Journal Of Cancer report has found it also contains an antifungal compound which is converted in the body into a powerful cancer-fighting agent.

Coffee

Caffeine can protect against Parkinson's disease and damage caused by stroke, especially if you drink it as well as wine. A study of 8,000 men by the Honolulu Heart Program found the risk of developing Parkinson's disease fell the more coffee they drank. Another study found that if coffee is consumed in conjunction with wine, it can protect against nerve damage caused by stroke. But these results should be interpreted with caution - the experiment was carried out on rats.

FOOD

Embrace fatty foods, sweet treats and red meat - they keep your skin soft, boost mood and sex drive and protect against fillings. If you're in doubt, doubt no longer - here's the proof.

Cheese

Cheese, such as stilton, protects against tooth decay and provides plenty of cholesterol. A British study found that cheese raises the calcium level in plaque - the bacteria that cling to tooth surfaces - and this helps fortify teeth against corrosive acids formed in the mouth when you eat carbodydrates like bread or potato.

Chocolate

Chocolate boosts mood, activity levels and sex drive - but it has to be dark and full of cocoa. 'Theobromine and phenethylamine in cocoa stimulate dopamine production in the brain and are powerful mood stimulators,' says nutritionist Patrick Holford. 'Recent studies show that dopamine kick- starts a brain chemical called DARP-32. This activates hormones which make women more interested in sex.'

However, he warns against eating cheaper chocolate brands which are highly sweetened and don't contain enough cocoa to confer a beneficial effect.

Cholesterol

Clotted cream - with mince pies, naturally - eggs or butter, anything associated with high cholesterol can keep your skin supple, boost mental clarity and keep bones strong. Cholesterol is so important that when we stop eating it, our body makes its own. While considered disastrous for our cardiovascular health, few of us appreciate that cholesterol also helps transport vitamins into our cells. The sex hormones, oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone are synthesised from cholesterol, and it is also needed to make vitamin D which regulates levels of calcium in our bones and blood.

It constitutes 5 pc of the dry weight of the brain and helps control when and where nerve cells in the brain form junctions known as synapses playing a role in thought, awareness, co-ordination, cognition and mood.

Honey

Honey fights a wide range of fungal infections and bacteria if it is unprocessed In particular, honey contains hydrogen peroxide which acts as a natural antibiotic, killing bad bacteria in the gut.

Manuka honey from New Zealand, made from wild bees, has therapeutic effects. It has been found to heal stomach ulcers, and its ability to heal chronic wounds and ulcers has resulted in trials in hospitals throughout Britain.

Red meat

Red meat gives you vital energy, so eat plenty. 'Red meat is the most concentrated and easily absorbable source of iron, needed by blood cells to carry oxygen round the body,' says Gail Goldberg of the British Nutrition Foundation.

'If levels are low, your tissues literally cannot breathe. People can become very tired, lethargic and ultimately, anaemic.'

Lifestyle

Don't overstrain yourself - it could wear down your joints and your immunity. And remember, overeating might make you put on a bit of weight, but it also plays a vital role in rejuvenation.

Being lazy

Lazing around helps your body repair its tissues, rebuild your immunity and boosts memory. According to Professor Peter Axt, a health researcher from
Fulda, Germany, a few hours of lazing each day could even be better than exercise, if you want to prolong your lifespan.

'People who would rather laze on a couch instead of running a marathon or who take a midday nap instead of playing squash have a better chance of living to old age,' says Professor Axt, in his paper, On The Joy of Laziness. He cites research which found that people who run long distances into their 50s are using up energy they need for other purposes and are more likely to suffer memory loss.

'Strenuous exercise strains your body and can make you more vulnerable to illness,' explains Prof Axt, who claims the value of procrastination is grossly undervalued.

'We always think we have to be "doing"? something but "doing" nothing, for at least half of your free time, could be better.'

Professor Axt's argument for lazing is backed by U.S. research showing that stress can decrease immunity by up to 40pc and lead to problems such as IBS, migraine and muscular tension.

'The body uses relaxation-time to repair tissues and rebuild immunity,' says Dr Jane Flemming, a GP with an interest in complementary therapies. 'You need it, especially when you're overtired.'

The emotional impact of doing nothing shouldn't be underestimated either. 'Being lazy helps you empty your mind of worries and preoccupations which can be emotionally disruptive,' says Dorjee Khandro, a Buddhist nun from London.

'Sitting still and letting go, can help you slow down. Having this "space" with no expectations at all or any other kind of demands can prove to be a great source of contentment.'

Overeating

Stuffing yourself full of fatty food such as mince pies does pile on the calories. But you can look on the bright side of overeating - it can help set back the clock.

Finnish researchers have confirmed that the post-bingeing state of lethargy induces a surge of endorphins and human growth hormone (HGH) which are responsible for cell regrowth and renewal. The increase in HGH can be so great that it encourages rejuvenation in tissues that would otherwise not undergo renewal.

Sing praises - to yourself

Don't feel guilty about that Christmas binge, whatever you do. Follow
Jeffrey Archer's example - praise yourself unconditionally, reminding yourself repeatedly how wonderful you really are - whatever you have done. Asking over 1,000 people to keep guilt diaries, researchers at the University of Helsinki found that people prone to guilt and self-depreciation were more prone to colds and flu, cold sores, backache, anxiety and depression.

Conversely people who 'talked themselves up', reminding themselves how beautiful or successful they were, have stronger immunity, and rarely suffer problems related to anxiety or depression.

For those suffering from guilt or low self-esteem this Christmas, Caroline Meyer, life-coach based in London, suggests standing in front of the mirror each morning saying 'I love you' or other complementary phrases to your reflection. As your ego-inflates, so will your mood and immunity.