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  What does a huge festive meal do to your brain? Jessica Bradley Share Save Getty Images (Credit: Getty Images) Many of us with throw modesty out the window when it comes to Christmas lunch . But what do these blow-out festive meals do to our body and brain? There are  lots of ways that food supports our brains  to do their many important functions, including our memory and concentration. A  balanced diet can also be a powerful support to our mental health. But what immediate effects does eating a huge meal – such as an all-the-works Christmas dinner – have on our brains? What happens when we overeat? When we're eating, various signals around  the body work together to let our brains know we're full  – including from hormones released from the gut, and metabolites (molecules that break down food for energy). These  hormones also signal the release of insulin from the pancreas to control our blood sugar.  This whole process is called the " satiet...

Energy drinks are labeled wrong. They don’t energize you – they stimulate you. Research shows that beyond a brief caffeine high, there are actually no health benefits to energy drinks. In fact, the combination of different chemicals is likely to do more harm than good, especially for children. Some of the unwelcome side effects of the drinks include elevated heart rates, hypertension , anxiety , headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. A recent study by the University of Miami suggests even more serious outcomes, such as heart palpitations , strokes and sudden death . Listen, I know it’s hard to believe that something that looks like soda could cause any of these symptoms. But let’s look at the facts here: Energy drinks have three to five times the amount of caffeine as regular sodas do. They also include a number of unregulated herbal stimulants and natural blends like taurine , guarana , creatine and B-vitamins . And a lot of the time, they don’t even...