Summary: The winter blues, what are the solutions?
The chronicle discusses the winter blues, a phenomenon that affects one in five people due to the reduction in sunlight, disturbing the production of serotonin and the sleep cycle. Among the causes identified, we find the lack of sunshine, a disturbed sleep due to stress and lack of physical activity, social isolation, an unbalanced diet rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates, as well as alcohol consumption, which can worsen depression.
To remedy this, Lynn Goneau recommends light therapy, adaptogenic plants such as Ashwagandha and Maca, the maintenance of social interactions, a balanced diet and the reduction of alcohol. Finally, she suggests A natural saffron and turmeric supplement to promote mood.
1. Less light, less enthusiasm
Reducing natural light affects the production of serotonin, resulting in a drop in morale and a lack of energy. Light therapy can help regulate mood and sleep cycle.
2. A sleep disturbed by stress
Lack of physical activity in winter can affect the quality of sleep. Adaptogenic plants like Ashwagandha and sacred basil help manage stress to sleep better.
3. Winter isolation
Cold and snow limit social interactions, accentuating the winter blues. Maintaining contacts via FaceTime or organizing board games evenings helps break solitude.
4. A diet that plays on mood
Foods rich in refined sugar and carbohydrates cause variations in energy and mood. Favor whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins stabilizes blood sugar.
5. Alcohol, a false friend
Alcohol aggravates depression and can interact with certain drugs. Reducing consumption helps preserve good mental health in winter.
6. A natural boost
A saffron and turmeric supplement, such as Genuine Health's mood product, can support emotional balance thanks to its effects on neurotransmitters.
Animator at the 104.7 FM radio station from the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson hosts the Outaouais program now from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week since February 27, 2023.
Transcription
Frédéric Bisson- Host 104.7FM:
Even if there is light outside, there is snow. Then there are too much there. We are in a bad mood. We go out, it's fun. We take the air, we are in a good mood. But there is someone who comes to park too close to the house. We are in a bad mood. We have the winter blues. Why is it like that? Lynn Goneau naturopath with the grain box is there.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
The winter blues, there are several reasons. In fact, I have released five today that I would like to talk to you. As you mentioned at the beginning, the reduction in sunlight. That affects people because it will deregulate at the chemical level. In your brain, it can be depressed with a lack of enthusiasm. We often see that for some people. Seasonal emotional disorder is effectively called. We even recognize one in five people who are assigned. Then I am Fred.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
Oh yes? How is it going?
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
I have fewer enthusiasm. I don't want to sleep anymore, then just the lack of enthusiasm.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
I understand. Yes, me too, I have that, but there, I released my light therapy lamp for real for a week. I see a difference. Even Samuel is able to endure me now.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
This is what I prefer too. I use light therapy. Me too, Fred, because it's really, it works really well. It is a small screen with the brightness that looks like the clarity of the sun, then it acts on serotonin. So it's the hormone of happiness. That allows you to regularize your mood, your circadian cycle.
And above all it improves your sleep. Then often that's it when sleep is my second point, it's when sleep is disturbed because you move less. So we have more difficulty eliminating our stress. So sleep often is more difficult to reach. When I have trouble sleeping, Fred, I know that the next day, I will not be in a good mood.
There are adaptogenic plants that I can take during the day to reduce stress. The sacred basil herbal tea. This is one of my favorites and ashwagandha capsules and maca. If we take this during the day, we can manage our stress. So sleep better in the evening.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
Possibility three of why we may have winter blues, isolation.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
Yes, then that, we often find that in winter, because it is cold. There is a lot of snow, as right now. So people are less conducive to meeting or getting close. There are easy solutions too. The facetime is virtual. So we can see ourselves like that. It still helps to break the isolation or go to visit friends, family members. It's even popular to do that. Make homemade visits where you can play board games, it comes back in fashion.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
Yes, because coffee so dear to your house and like that to eat well too. It can be a problem that causes the winter blues. That is to say that we do not eat well enough.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
Yes, for the solution for that, it is to avoid foods with high content in sugar or refined carbohydrates, because it causes blood sugar peaks. Then when you have blood sugar peaks, your mood changes. You can avoid chips in the evening in front of the TV, then replace them with popcorn. This is a beautiful alternative or eliminating desserts after a meal. Because that is really just a habit, Fred, there.
White bread, replace it with a wholemeal bread with grains. The amount of vegetables is the time of good soups. The right soups, the good soups that nourish, that's easy. You can even buy legumes, try to replace red meats with fish or poultry. It can help reduce inflammation.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
The other reason may be alcohol.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
Yes, alcohol, we know that it is a repressor. Naturally, it increases depression, anxiety. We often even forget that alcohol will interact with depression and arthritis drugs. Then at that time, that will not solve our problem.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
Good lynn, let's say that in there, I don't find myself. Or it's not enough. I need a small supplement. What is the star product?
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
Well, there is the Genuine Health company that I like to work with it because it is a Canadian company that has offered quality natural supplements for over 30 years. Uh, then it's a product called Mood. Ah yes, it contains saffron and turmeric. Then we agree that the saffron, also known as sunny spice. There are proven effects on the mood eclipse by acting on neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. They also put turmeric. So anti -inflammatory, his fight also against oxidative stress. So can allow the body to focus more on improving your mood.
Frédéric Bisson - Animator 104.7FM:
It must make beautiful colors, in any case, these two spices.
Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:
Indeed, then it's easy to take it in a capsule like that every day.
Genuine Health's Mood Saffron & Turmeric is an innovative, natural formula designed to balance your daily mood. Saffron and turmeric work synergistically to help you achieve better balance in your day-to-day life.
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Soy-free
NPN 80121738
