Beat the winter blues with these helpful top tips from Dr. Sebastian Winckler.

As the dark nights creep in, many of us can get a case of the winter blues and in some more extreme cases, may even be affected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the lack of sunlight in winter and shorter daylight hours. During this time we can often experience a dip in mood but we may experience symptoms such as sleep problems, over eating, anxiety, mood changes, lethargy, loss of concentration and libido.

Well, help is at hand as Dr. Sebastian Winckler lends us his top tips on how to beat those winter blues.

1. Get out during the daylight hours. Try and take an extended lunch break and go for a brisk walk around the park or sit next to a window to get the most out of the natural daylight. Getting as much natural light as possible helps improve Vitamin D levels, which in turn will help lift your mood
2. Boost your serotonin and energy levels by eating ‘good carbs’ such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and seeds as these will help lift your mood but also control your weight. It’s of course common to comfort eat when you are feeling a little low but this will only offer a short term fix so you need to ditch the refined sugary carbs such as cakes, biscuits and white bread
3. Supplements such as St John’s Wort may help mild levels of seasonal depression – but it’s worth checking with your doctor as it can interact with other medications. Also try cod liver oil as this strengthens the immune system and improves vitamin D levels which protects against depression
4. Light therapy has been shown to be effective in many cases. If you’re not getting enough natural light or struggling to wake up in the morning, try using a light box or dawn stimulator. Sitting in front of a light box for a short period everyday can help improve your mood. A dawn stimulator alarm clock can also help you to wake up naturally which in turn helps improve your mood
5. Exercise is commonly accepted as a more effective treatment for depression than antidepressants. If you don’t want to exercise outside, try a home exercise video of attend a fitness class and get your heart pumping to release happy hormones
6. Take a break. If you can, try and take a winter sun holiday or swap your summer holiday for a warm, winter trip to sunnier climates. Exposure to sunlight will increase your Vitamin D levels. The body stores and distributes Vitamin D over a 30 day period.

Tips taken from www.thehealthcounter.com

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