08/03/2022
Seasonal Affective Disorder
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
During the winter months, the days are shorter which means we see less sunlight. This lack of sunlight may cause some people to experience sadness or depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD affects more women than men and usually makes its appearance in our 30s or 40s.
Though medical intervention is an option there are many alternatives to explore before going this route. Our favourite, of course, is food!
🧠 Food can affect mood-altering neurotransmitters that influence mood
• Serotonin is released after eating carbohydrates (such as fruit, dairy, starches, and sugars). It influences calmness, improves mood, and lessens depression. Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan.
• Dopamine and norepinephrine are released after eating protein (such as meat, poultry, dairy, and legumes) that enhance mental concentration and alertness.
🥗 Which foods can help improve mood:
🐔🍚🧆🍓- Eating protein and carbohydrates together will help stabilize mood and keep you feeling satisfied
🌶️🍌 Bright-coloured foods can lift our mood – think red peppers, yellow bananas
🐟 🥑 Healthy fats like fatty fish and avocados are good for the brain and may help our mood.
🍫 Chocolate not just tastes great but has also been shown to improve mood as it contains compounds that stimulate the ‘feel-good’ chemicals in our brain. Choose the highest cocoa content you can find.
It is best to avoid processed foods, fried foods and high sugar content foods.
Book your free consultation today and discover our customized nutrition plans that can help you live a more vibrant, confident and impactful life.
