SAD

Do you ever feel down?

The winter time is strongly correlated with the holidays and drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies and pie. It also means that people are together with their family, eating, talking, playing, and hopefully enjoying a few presents to share. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes we don't have a lot of family around us, or our family bonds aren't as strong as we would like them to be. Its sad, but its life. Life isn't so perfect, but that's a topic for another day. The fact that the weather isn't so optimal to keep your spirits up created a problem in our everyday lives.

People periodically experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) AKA the winter blues. This period is mostly caused by the lack of light one experiences. Mostly, SAD is cured when one exposes themselves to light, even if its for a short period of time. Most scientist (http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/seasonal-affective-disorder) believe that this is caused by the bodies' internal clock, which is regulated by the sun. It is innate to know when to wake up and go to sleep because our bodies are directed by natural sunlight. However, if we wake up and its always gloomy outside, our internal clock doesn't know how to process the information, the use of artificial light does not help provide the warmth and vitamin D that the sun's natural exposure would of.

So what are natural remedies to prevent feeling SAD?

1. If you have the time and money you can always go to a light box ()

2. Vacation to a light sunny place.

3. Exercise

4. Eat right

5. Fill your house with holiday spirit or with tropical items such as a tiki or hulas

6. Eat tryptophan rich foods such as fruits (apricots) and basmati rice

7. Limit alcohol and caffeine

8. Surround yourself with lighthearted people who often laugh or are very "happy go lucky" (just don't feel jealous that they are so gleeful, it might rub off on you)

So there is my list. Also remember to eat plenty of good carbs. If your glycogen storage tends to dip, you may feel a negative ship in your mood because you cognition isn't working properly. Besides that try to enjoy the weather and take it as an opportunity to go out and relax and use it to wind down and drink some yummy tea. Live in the moment and encourage your body to wind down.