Turns out your Christmas dinner is actually good for you

In just over two weeks you’ll be tucking into your Christmas dinner. Yes it’s calorific but it’s the one meal that you shouldn’t feel guilty about, not just because it’s a special occasion. It turns out that the turkey and all those trimmings actually have some pretty good health benefits. (Note: we’re not saying to sit down and have a Christmas dinner every week but you might find some of this information surprising.) Turkey and Ham Turkey is a great source of iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus as well as vitamin B6. Not only does it give you lots of energy but it also keeps your cholesterol and insulin levels in check. It’s other half, ham, is rich in protein and packed full of vitamins and minerals including riboflavin which is used for the metabolism of fatty acids. Brussels Sprouts Not everyone likes them but they are good for you. Packed full of antioxidants and nutrients – such as protein, iron and potassium – Brussels sprouts are believed to boost your immune system and help to prevent diseases, including cancer. They also aid digestion which means your system will be in good working order after a few of them! Potatoes It might get a bad name but the good old spud is rich in fibre and antioxidants. As well as lowering blood pressure, they boost your immune system and are said to combat stress. If that doesn't encourage you to throw on a few extra roast potatoes, the fact that they are low in calories but keep you fuller for longer should... won’t stop us going for dessert after dinner though. Cranberry Sauce If you have a dollop of this on your plate, it’s no bad thing. Cranberries are often referred to as a superfood and contain a large amount of phenols which apparently reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. After reading this, we might put two spoonfuls of this delicious sauce on our plates this year. [caption id="attachment_232017" align="alignnone" width="680"] Cranberry sauce. Close-up.[/caption]