Are you feeling those winter blues?
It’s about that time of year when the winter blues start to kick in, and naturally so. The beautiful fall colours have turned and the leaves are falling. The holidays are approaching and daylight hours are shorter. We have settled back into our 9-5 schedule, and we find ourselves daydreaming and longing for those carefree summer days. If these thoughts unsettle you, you aren’t alone.
SAD
SAD – a seasonal affective disorder – is the formal term for fall and winter blues. This term refers to an increasing intensity in depression levels and what feels like a “blue mood.”
The big question surrounding its onset for most of us, is “What can I do about it?”An important question! These months and seasons come every single year, so instead of dreading their arrival, let’s discuss and implement some habits that will bring some sunshine back into our days!
Fix those winter blues
Food & Mood!
There are no surprises here. There is a strong connection between food and mood. A proper whole foods diet is important ALL year round. The significant role that food can have on our mood, is why we should make sure we are getting adequate amounts of nutrients during this challenging time of the year. A diet full of root vegetables – like squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, and parsnips will be some of your best friends in the winter months. They are grounding foods that have a effect on your body and, they are in season.
Exercise
Also a HUGE mood enhancer. Yes, it becomes a little bit more difficult during the fall and winter months to get yourself to spin, yoga, or take a cold plunge, BUT, you will thank yourself for doing it. Exercise is proven to be effective in significantly lowering anxiety, or feelings of depression. Movement releases endorphins that are responsible for giving you that “runner’s high” or that upbeat and happy mood post-sweat. Exercise gets you out of the house and into a social circle – and who knows, maybe your morning spin class will lead to a delicious breakfast date with a fellow gym-goer afterward (jackpot)!
Daylight
Get your daily fix of light. If it’s a sunny day, then get outside, turn yourself to the sunshine and soak it all in. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible for a lot of us during the week as a result of working full-time and due to the fact that when we do see a sunny day in December, it is often accompanied by 15-20 degrees below freezing. The wonderful thing is, we can still expose ourselves to enough light to help boost our moods and it can be achieved by simply buying yourself a source of full-spectrum lighting. Exposure to this type of light is crucial in making sure that our happy hormones receive what they require in order to make us feel good.
Winters months can be a challenging time of year, but there ARE things that we can do for ourselves to improve how we are feeling and that’s the good news. So, let’s do what we can to send these blues on their way and pave way to actually start enjoying the crispness and freshness that these fall and winter months have to offer to us!
Immune system support
Claiming that a particular food or supplement can boost your immune system is simplistic and rather misleading. You can’t technically “boost” your immune system, but you can support it by practising good habits. During the winter months, flu, RSV, and COVID increase in circulation which makes it rather tempting for us to pop a pill, eat highly touted “superfoods”, or take dozens of supplements. There is really only sufficient evidence to support a few of my personal faves.
If you are considering taking supplements or concentrating on certain foods, Vit C, Probiotics, and Manuka Honey, homemade chicken and vegetable soups are the fantastic five! These fab five can slow activity of inflammation, reduce mucus flow, and help ease the discomfort of that stuffy nose.
What about Zinc? Be careful with Zinc. Taking a daily high dose of zinc supplements increases the risk of health problems, including “impaired” immune function. Zinc gluconate or acetate lozenges can be taken at the onset of a suspected cold symptom, taken every 2-3 hours while awake. Many well-controlled trials support this for reducing the severity and duration of cold symptoms, especially cough, nasal congestion, nasal drainage, and sore throat.
Eliminate toxins
We strongly recommend supporting your body by keeping your poop moving and regularly removing soft-tissue toxins. It’s why our clinic is so busy. Whether you simply make colonics part of your regular routine, or do enemas at home, removing toxins and hydrating the gut are two fantastic ways to keep your gut health balanced. It is true that a well balanced gut biome keeps your elimination organs in good working order. Don’t knock it, until you try it.
So, to combat winter blues, keep your gut health in tact, exercise regularly, get a good night’s sleep, and manage that stress! Happy winter!
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