Ever wonder why you crave sugary sweets and other snacks more in winter than in summer? It’s possible you have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you’ve ever felt depressed during the colder winter months, you’re not alone. Many people suffer from the “winter blues”, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and it is this depression that creates an unconscious need for us to seek out comfort foods, often loaded with carbohydrates and sugar. The bad news is that in these situations, comfort eating often “works”: studies have shown that depressive feelings caused by SAD can disappear in just 20 minutes after snacking on comfort food. This is why so many health-conscious people often lose some of their willpower during the colder winter months. The good news? There are definitely ways to beat the winter blues without having to resort to a piece of cake or chocolate every day! Depression from SAD is mainly due to having too many cloudy days, not enough hours of sunlight and being forced to stay cooped up in the house because of the cold. While we’re lucky in Australia to have quite a mild winter, if you’re sensitive to seasonal changes, you’ll still likely to feel gloomy during the cold weather. One of the easiest solutions is to buy a sun lamp, which replicates sunlight, without the harmful UV rays that can cause eye and skin damage. And even though it may seem counter-intuitive, going outside will actually help you feel better – even when it’s a little chilly. Try to avoid the temptation of stimulants like coffee, tea and energy drinks to keep you going on cold winter days. Although they give us a quick energy boost, drinking too many may negatively affect your emotions, and will often also result in consuming excessive amounts of sugar. If you are desperate for something delicious and comforting to keep you warm in winter, why not heat some milk and add a couple drops of Chocolate Stevia SweetDrops, or make a yummy apple pie using Naturally Sweet Xylitol? You’ll avoid the temporary sugar high while still enjoying some of your favourite sweet treats.
Ever wonder why you crave sugary sweets and other snacks more in winter than in summer? It’s possible you have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you’ve ever felt depressed during the colder winter months, you’re not alone. Many people suffer from the “winter blues”, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and it is this depression that creates an unconscious need for us to seek out comfort foods, often loaded with carbohydrates and sugar. The bad news is that in these situations, comfort eating often “works”: studies have shown that depressive feelings caused by SAD can disappear in just 20 minutes after snacking on comfort food. This is why so many health-conscious people often lose some of their willpower during the colder winter months. The good news? There are definitely ways to beat the winter blues without having to resort to a piece of cake or chocolate every day! Depression from SAD is mainly due to having too many cloudy days, not enough hours of sunlight and being forced to stay cooped up in the house because of the cold. While we’re lucky in Australia to have quite a mild winter, if you’re sensitive to seasonal changes, you’ll still likely to feel gloomy during the cold weather. One of the easiest solutions is to buy a sun lamp, which replicates sunlight, without the harmful UV rays that can cause eye and skin damage. And even though it may seem counter-intuitive, going outside will actually help you feel better – even when it’s a little chilly. Try to avoid the temptation of stimulants like coffee, tea and energy drinks to keep you going on cold winter days. Although they give us a quick energy boost, drinking too many may negatively affect your emotions, and will often also result in consuming excessive amounts of sugar. If you are desperate for something delicious and comforting to keep you warm in winter, why not heat some milk and add a couple drops of Chocolate Stevia SweetDrops, or make a yummy apple pie using Naturally Sweet Xylitol? You’ll avoid the temporary sugar high while still enjoying some of your favourite sweet treats.
