The festive season is renowned for over-indulgence and rich foods - but Christmas favourites such as wine and chocolate can actually benefit your health if enjoyed in moderation, according to leading industrial and occupational health specialist Abermed.

Abermed's dietitian Toby Donnelly has listed her top tips to help you enjoy the season's treats without overdoing it.

Mulled wine is a festive winter warmer that’s rich in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, so when drunk in small quantities it can be good for the heart.

Brussels sprouts, that loved or hated vegetable to complement the Christmas turkey, are rich in vitamin C and are full of fibre.

And the good news is that dark chocolate is also full of flavonoids and contains iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, B, D and E - a festive indulgence which is almost guilt-free!

Another drink which has health boosting properties is pomegranate juice. It is rich in folic acid and vitamins A, C & E. It can work as a great alternative to orange juice with your Christmas Day breakfast, or even in your Bucks Fizz!

"Most of us do not actually feed the 5,000 over the festive period but we feel the need to buy the entire contents of our local supermarket," said Toby. "Once all this food is in our homes we then tend to overeat simply because its there and so I would advise shopping wisely and think quality and not quantity.

"There is also scope to adapt all of your Christmas favourites to ensure they are healthier than the traditional high fat, high sugar recipes.

"It is also important to remember the advice you should stick to all year round. Make sure everything is done in moderation, try to eat your five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, ensure you keep well hydrated by drinking six to eight cups of water, tea, or sugar-free juice or squash per day, and try to remain active on a daily basis."

Christmas brings with it a lot of parties, which often means more alcohol than normal is consumed.

Abermed’s advice is to take it easy and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink.

"If you have a heavy session of drinking one evening then always make sure you drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to rehydrate the next day," said Toby. "You must also give your body a decent amount of rest, around 48 hours, before drinking again."

Toby is also extending her advice to her own colleagues at Abermed, where staff who are keen to shed some weight attend a weight loss group every week. After only three weeks, the group had collectively managed to lose its first stone. Toby’s role sees her working with corporate clients on health promotion activities in order to increase the awareness of the link between nutrition and health. She also assesses and treats individuals with nutrition related problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

She is a member of British Dietetic Association (BDA) and its specialist group Dieticians in Obesity Management UK (DOM UK), and has professional registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC).