Writing this column every week, I find it difficult to avoid giving negative advice in order to promote positive health. Phrases such as "don't exceed", "give up" and "avoid" are a natural part of writing about good health.
So, this week, it gives me great pleasure to shrug off the shackles of propriety and in the spirit of excess and indulgence to look at traditional Christmas fare with a more benign and uncritical eye.
James McCormick, Emeritus Professor of Community Health at Trinity College Dublin, has long been an opponent of the "don't" and "be careful" school of health promotion. "We do well to encourage people to live lives of modified hedonism so that they might enjoy themselves to the full, rather than to portray life as a journey beset with avoidable dangers," he says.
There is a growing body of research looking at the benefits of pursuing a pleasurable activity. A new specialty of "hedonic psychology" - the study of the psychology of pleasure - is a prime part of it.
Prof David Warburton of Reading University has published a paper titled "A little of What You Fancy Does You Good". This laboratory-based research has demonstrated that the caffeine equivalent of one or two cups of coffee; or a glass of wine or three or four pieces of chocolate, made people calmer, more relieved and generally happier. Prof Warburton also found such pleasurable activities seemed to help people perform better at work.
Other researchers have monitored students watching humorous films and have demonstrated that laughter lowers blood pressure and increases endorphins (naturally occurring substances that produce a feeling of well-being) in the blood.
Even a fake smile has been shown to boost the immune system. And remembering happy events produces a sharp rise in the levels of immunoglobulin A, indicating a strengthening of the immune system.
So, as families gather over Christmas, indulgence in a little remembrance of happy times past can definitely be recommended.
But back to the Christmas meal: what are the benefits of traditional fare? Roast turkey is high in protein and low in fat, particularly if you discard the skin and eat only the light meat.
Ham is a good source of protein, vitamin B, iron and zinc. It is also very low in fat. If you roast potatoes with vegetable or olive oil rather than lard, they are a good source of vitamin C. An average portion of Brussels sprouts will provide you with half the daily requirement of folic acid and all your vitamin C needs. Cranberry sauce is a good source of vitamin C also. Walnuts contain a number of antioxidant nutrients which help protect against heart disease and cancer.
There are even benefits in Christmas pudding! The dried fruits used to make traditional pud are enriched with potassium and also contain iron and fibre. Satsumas are a part of Christmas for many people and are an obvious source of vitamin C.
Coffee will improve alertness and concentration. Drinking two to three glasses of wine a day halves the risk of premature death. Beaujolais has a high content of vitamins B1 and B6 and, intriguingly, has been shown to have an anti-bacterial action also.
Christmas is invariably a time for at least some over-indulgence in alcohol. While I would prefer to see people drinking a steady two or three glasses of wine on a daily basis over the festive period, reality suggests I should include advice for those who exceed this as they do the rounds of late-night parties.
Preparation is a key element in avoiding a severe hangover. Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Milk is an old favourite, not, as many people believe because it lines the stomach, but because it is a food. Like pasta or bread, it slows down the absorption of alcohol from the stomach and prevents the liver from being overwhelmed.
So, start the evening with a good meal and a glass of milk. Then drink two glasses of water and, if you can, take at least one glass of water for every glass of alcohol you consume. Not alone will this help you drink less, it will prevent dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pass more urine and you become dehydrated as a result. This in turn exacerbates hangover symptoms, such as a throbbing headache.
The type of drink you choose will also determine how you feel the next day. Some drinks contain more additives, called congeners, which are formed in the fermenting process. The additives that give alcohol colour seem to be the worst culprits where hangovers are concerned. Pale drinks, such as vodka, white wine or gin are best, with brandy, red wine, port, whiskey and rum at the opposite end of the scale.
Champagne will cause inebriation quicker, as bubbles speed the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream. For the same reason, try not to mix spirits with fizzy drinks - use water or fruit juice instead. Cocktails can be lethal, as the flavour masks how strong the mixture is.
So, it is well after midnight and you have managed to ignore all the preventative advice. Is there anything you can do at this late stage to avoid "the morning after the night before"?
You should drink as much water as possible before you collapse into bed. Also, try soluble vitamin C, which accelerates detoxification.
The next morning, drink as much water as you can, take vitamin C tablets or a glass of orange juice. Keep sipping water throughout the day. Try to stay away from coffee, which has to be processed by the liver. After an excess of alcohol, this organ will already be in a delicate state.
Eat as soon as you wake up, even if it is only something small. A banana will help to slowly boost blood sugar levels. Irritability, dizziness and tiredness are hangover symptoms linked to low blood sugar, so this should help.
Some people swear by raw eggs whisked into a shake. I would have thought this incompatible with the inevitable upset stomach, but then hangover cures are not an exact science! As for the hair of the dog, it is probably best avoided.
On a purely medical front, a drug called Motilium will help with nausea and it also promotes gastric emptying. Solpadeine, paracetemol or aspirin should moderate any thumping headache.
Finally, do not underestimate the curative power of a walk and fresh air. And in the best traditions of "hedonic psychology" - have a great Christmas!