Feeling the Winter Blues?

SADWhen you hear the acronym SAD, you would rightly assume that it is referring to the Standard American Diet. But there is another SAD which is also important to talk about – Seasonal Affective Disorder. What is this particular SAD? Think “winter blues.” Many people notice a change in the way they feel at the start of the colder season – lethargy, weight gain, loss of libido, difficulty concentrating, and even low grade depression. Some may have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, sleep longer, crave carbohydrates and feel less joy in everyday activities. Continue reading “Feeling the Winter Blues?”

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Strategies to Lift Your Mood and Help with SAD

sad lightThe darker days of winter can take a toll emotionally and mentally on many people. For some, feeling down and the longing for warm sunshine is constant and can be accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, weight gain and irritability. This feeling is referred to appropriately as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a type of depression that is common during winter months.

The cause of SAD isn’t absolutely clear. However, research indicates that lack of sunlight and the roles of two neurotransmitters, serotonin and melatonin, may have a part in the onset of this disorder.

Serotonin is known as the “feel good hormone” and helps to regulate our moods. Continue reading “Strategies to Lift Your Mood and Help with SAD”

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Eat More Fruits and Vegetables for a Better Mood

Researchers in New Zealand found that people who ate at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day felt calmer and more relaxed than those who didn’t. The study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology found a day-to-day relationship between those who reported a higher fruit and vegetable consumption and positive mood.

According to lead author, Dr. Tamlin Connor, “On days when people ate more fruits and vegetables, they reported feeling calmer, happier and more energetic than they normally did.”

To achieve seven fruits and vegetables per day, try filling up half your plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal. Besides having a positive effect on your mental outlook, you will also be giving your body fiber for good digestion, antioxidants to help fight cancer causing free radicals, and heart healthy vitamins and minerals.

If you find you are still struggling with this, try adding a greens drink or a berry drink like Berry Fusion to your daily routine.

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5 Tips to Beat the Winter Blues

The days are really short. I wake up before the sun and by the time 5pm rolls around, it is dark again. Many people experience sadness, melancholy or winter blues because they do not get enough sunlight. Some people experience SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, a mood disorder in which people with normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter.

There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration, and carefully-timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.

However, today I am just going to give you five fun tips to pick up your mood. Continue reading “5 Tips to Beat the Winter Blues”

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