By Marcey Klein BS, CNC
Darker overcast days, and more temperate weather summarize the next several winter months ahead, but it is nothing to get down about, as there are ways to keep our spirits high and our bodies happy.
Probably the most important thing we can do is exercise several times a week. The endorphins produced by our bodies during exercise are very mood lifting, and the detoxifying effects while we sweat are great for our livers. The right kind of exercise can be a powerful tool in age reversal. Make sure the exercise is not breaking down more than it’s building, and that it’s appropriate for your age and lifestyle; yoga, tai chi, weight lifting, some aerobic movement like dance, and rebounding, will enhance our lives. Mixing it up is important, joining a class will give you motivation, and finding workout partners can really help us become more accountable. Now is the time to do it. The key for success is to get the heart pumping and your body moving.
Another beneficial modality to lift up our moods is to drink Tulsi Tea, also known as Holy Basil. This plant is amazing for your health, your mood, and can really destress the body as it assists in deactivating and removing the destructive fight or flight hormone cortisol from our bodies. If someone is really having a difficult time coping this winter, try taking the concentrated version sold in capsules several times a day. Tulsi is a powerful plant, high in antioxidants, and helpful with bringing down inflammation. There are several different teas to choose from, my favorite is Yogi’s Tulsi Rose Tea which is absolutely delicious.
Vitamin D plays a big role in improving our moods. I have heard it been called the mood hormone a few times, as vitamin D actually acts like a hormone more than a vitamin. This sunshine vitamin does not get manufactured in our bodies nearly as much in the winter months, as we are not getting the sun that we did in the summer. Research has shown that we have twice the amount of serotonin in the brain during the summer months than in the winter, and that people who are lowest in vitamin D are many times more likely to suffer from depression. We have vitamin D receptors in the brain, and this vitamin may affect the proteins in the brain that play a role in mood, learning, and memory, not to mention vitamin D and the part it plays in immune benefit. 5,000 IU a day taken regularly can be sufficient.
Make sure to eat the right type of fats for your brain. Our brain is made of roughly 60% fat, and mostly long chain polyunsaturated fats like omega 3’s. The omega 3 fats from wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, oysters, herring, flax, chia, hemp, and walnuts our brains love. Our brain is also made up of some saturated fats as well, that’s why coconut oil and fats from pastured meats and butter are so good for us. Proteins are also important for our brains because the amino acids that make up these proteins are used by our bodies as raw material to make our mood enhancing neurotransmitters. Having a protein and fat source at every meal is important for not only balancing our blood sugars, but for giving us the raw materials necessary for building healthy neurotransmitters. We can also take L Theanine, one of the building blocks to making our feel good neurotransmitters.
Eating a variety of foods, keeping our plates colorful, and eating seasonal and fresh ingredients will give us phytonutrients, antioxidants, and nutrition to build a better and happier you this winter. I also find that supplementing with a high quality multivitamin, extra C, Magnesium, electrolytes, and the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K, is a good start to supporting your body. Stop in to Wild Roots to say hi or to ask any health related questions you may have. Be well!
