How to beat the winter blues

Many millions of Americans experience a change in mood during the Winter times: Seasonal affective Disorder or SAD affects around 3% of the population. Lack of sunlight can trigger a change in mood and behavior and people who work long hours indoors are most affected. Symptoms of SAD are:

• Feeling always tiered

• Craving of carbohydrate rich food like bread, past, chocolate and rice.

• Lack of motivation

• A desire to be alone

• Weight gain.

But it doesn’t need to be like that! There are lot’s of things that you can do to effectively beat the blues:

• Exercise is known to be a mood booster.

• Try to get outside as much as possible. Even when it is cloudy, there is more light outside then inside.

• Get a good source of Omega 3 Fatty acids: Beneficial fats that are commonly found in fatty fish like Tuna and Krill Oil. These fats have been clinically shown to improve mood.

• 5-HTP: A precursor to Serotonin, the “happy hormone:. It is a supplement that you can get at any health store and it will give your body everything it needs to “assemble” Serotonin for you. I recommend  a dosage of 100mg in the morning, and 100mg in the evening.

• Get plenty of sleep

• Get out and meet your friends. Isolating yourself will only make it worse.

• Light therapy: One very effective thing you can do is to get a special lamp designed to help with SAD. It has very bright full spectrum light and simulates natural sunlight in your home.

• Relax, do something for yourself and get a good massage.

Stay warm, Katharina