A few of my winter staples to prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder. (SAD)
Liquid vitamin D3 vegan spray and liquid fish oil!
It’s been estimated that as many as 20 percent of Americans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) each winter, suffering from the blues, fatigue, and in some cases, more serious depression as sunlight grows scarce.
Vitamin D receptors appear in a wide variety of brain tissue, and activated vitamin D receptors increase nerve growth in your brain. It’s important for all-around brain function and mental health. I take 5,000 IU's per day. (Be sure to get your levels checked to see if you need a mega-dose from the doctor if yours is depleted.)
Fish oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Recent studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in maintaining a healthy emotional balance. Try taking a combined total of 1,000 – 2,000 mg of EPA and DHA, the essential fatty acids found within fish oil, per day for mild depression. DHA is found in nerve and brain tissue.
CLICK HERE to order and get a $5 off coupon code!
Source: www.mercola.com
Copyright, 2016, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
On days like today I'm glad I own a "happy" lamp!! It simulates the sunlight on these dark, winter days and is beneficial for people who struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), depression, fatigue, moodiness, insomnia, or negativity! I sit in front of mine in the morning for 20-30 minutes if I can! You can easily order one from Amazon.com.
*For more health tips like these please follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/OptimumWellnessLLC/
Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
www.optimumwellnessmn.com
Winter is almost here and I can already feel the low, draining energy in the air as the temperatures drop!! According to the Mayo Clinic, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year. If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you may have SAD.
Anyone can get SAD, but it is more common in:
-People who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons.
-Women.
-People between the ages of 15 and 55. The risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age.
-People who have a close relative with SAD.
What causes SAD?
Experts are not sure what causes SAD, but they think it may be caused by a lack of sunlight. Lack of light may upset your sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms. And it may cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin that affects mood.
What are the symptoms?
If you have SAD, you may:
-Feel sad, grumpy, moody, or anxious.
-Lose interest in your usual activities.
-Eat more and crave carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta.
-Gain weight.
-Sleep more and feel drowsy during the daytime.
-Symptoms come and go at about the same time each year. For most people with SAD, symptoms start in September or October and end in April or May.
This year I plan on buying a light box that simulates sunlight. Check out this one on Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001ATEJ2/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
I am also going to take a vitamin D supplement, fish oil, and get plenty of exercise. Be sure to get your vitamin D levels tested to see if you are deficient!
Here are a few supplements I recommend:
Vitamin D- (whole food sources)
Megafoods Vitamin D3
Garden of Life Raw Vitamin D3
Fish Oil-
Carlson or Nordic Naturals Brands- I like the liquid but if you don't like a fishy taste you have the option of buying softgels. These brands are high quality, molecularly distilled, tested for purity and free of contaminants.
