Living in New York City, when the seasons change, boy do we know about it! If you’ve not experienced it, then I know you’ve definitely seen on the news how our winter storms have really upped their game in recent years. Basically, it’s dark and gloomy for 3-4 months straight. Sometimes the Holidays and Christmas lights and gift shopping are just not enough to beat back the blues. But there’s a difference between feeling low because you can no longer sit out in the park of an evening, and chronic sadness. Seasonal Affective Disorder shows up in feeling blue, but also as increased irritability, anxiety, issues focusing or concentrating, sleeping longer but not as deeply, and feeling lethargic. Fall is like the weather’s luteal phase! And just like with our own pre-menstrual experience, if we don’t support our bodies and our hormones then we will find that we take the transition much harder than is necessary. You Winter proof your house, right? Well, you’ve got to Winterproof yourself too! Because when the weather’s PMS and your PMS sync - you’ll be in for a rough ride!
The hormonal story behind SAD symptoms
Both pre-menstrual depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder occur because of low levels of the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is produced in our bodies from the precursor amino acid tryptophan, and melatonin is converted from serotonin by the pineal gland at night. Thus, low serotonin yields low melatonin, which messes with our sleep cycles and further contributes to depressed feelings.Take away regular doses of natural sunlight with the darkening weather, and it gets even worse. Sunlight increases serotonin production, as well as Vitamin D production, which helps maintain the serotonin levels. I should also mention that the stress hormone cortisol can impact serotonin production, so if you throw stress or adrenal issues into the mix, it will exacerbate the problem.
The 5 Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder
I’m certain that prescriptions of antidepressants increase exponentially at this time. But you can avoid this heavy-hitting protocol, by trying out some natural, gentle remedies that will support your body, your hormones and boost your mood holistically. Hop over here to get some additional tips on alleviating stress and anxiety too.
- Brighten your diet. Seek out foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan. These include: turkey, chicken, seafood, eggs, buckwheat, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Vitamin B6 is also important for melatonin production and progesterone production so pick up a B6 supplement and increase the foods listed above. I’m also including a smoothie recipe here that is rich in serotonin-boosting nutrients. You can fight PMS with food and weather-PMS is just the same!
- Light up your life. Get out of bed and go for a walk first thing in the morning when the sun’s up, if possible. Waking your body up with natural light is one of the best things you can do for moods and monthly cycle. If it’s hard to come by where you live, or the weather is just too bad, then invest in an indoor energy lamp like these or a light mask like this.
- Get in the rhythm! Waking up and going to sleep at the same time, as well as eating meals and exercising at similar times every day greatly improves your body’s inner circadian rhythms, which will help regulate your sleep cycle and menstrual cycle. A regular rhythm will combat the winter blues and the PMS blues, all at once. I have some tips for getting better sleep and developing a good bedtime routine.
- Make your social network a reality. Get off Facebook (at least for a while!) and get real personal contact with your favorite humans! Chance are, you’re not alone in feeling down. Picking up the phone to chat with a friend can be the greatest remedy of all.
- Up Your Supplement Game. If you’re in the SAD cave, then taking the right supplements isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessity. You’re already exhibiting the effects of depleted levels of key micronutrients and a disrupted gut microbiome. You need probiotics, omega 3’s, D3, B-vitamins, and more. Click here to learn about our recommended supplements.
How to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder With Supplements
If you’re ready for a natural solution that will help you balance your mood, order the Balance Supplement Kit and get the daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals you need to get rid of those winter blues. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:
I want to hear from you!
First, do you suffer with SAD? Second, what helps to boost your mood in the darker months? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)
Need more Hormone Help?
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