Seasonal Affective Disorder is a health problem that affects millions of people all over the world. It affects the wellness and wellbeing of the sufferer in the form of fatigue, depression, weight gain and a number of other distressing symptoms. It is caused by the lack of light in the winter time, and is most common in countries where winter days are short and have a lack of daylight. Seasonal Affective Disorder is often shortened to SAD, and medical professionals are slowly becoming more and more aware of the syndrome and the problems that it can cause.
There are a number of commonly used therapies for SAD, including light therapy and vitamin therapy, but more and more physicians are becoming aware of the benefit of adequate diet and nutrition. Some studies are now showing that carbohydrates could play a part in SAD. Many people gain weight as they crave carbohydrates during their SAD episodes, and if they were to eliminate them altogether, it would help with the symptoms. Complex carbohydrates can still be enjoyed, but simple carbohydrates such as crisps, sugary snacks and white bread should all be avoided as much as possible.
Low protein diets can also help with SAD in some circumstances, and cutting out caffeine is always of enormous benefit to your health.
There are also foods that have been shown to improve the symptoms of SAD. For example, foods that contain an amino acid called tryptophan can be of benefit. This is because this particular amino acid is used in the body to help you manufacture the ‘feel good’ hormone, and it is present in foods such as eggs, fish, turkey, bananas and avocados. Adding some of these foods to your diet could help to improve the symptoms of SAD.
