Could My Diet Help My SAD

SAD is the abbreviation of “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” In this disorder, for a specific period of the year, some people feel some type of low seratonin symptoms. The cause of SAD is yet unknown. In UK, SAD affects one in every fifty people. In some areas, it may affect to cause ‘winter blues’ up to one in eight people.

‘Winter blues’ is less severe form of SAD. The habitants of the areas where sunlight shines only for a few hours a day or the sun does not rise for weeks or months are more prone to this condition and vice-versa in sunny areas. SAD usually begins in ages of 20 to 30 and affects more women than men. Though the cause of this disorder is unknown, much of SAD information is available in books and on internet.

Preventing Depression

For the prevention of depression or any other disease, modification in life style is a necessary thing to be carried out. People with bad or poor eating habits or lack of physical activity are prone to depression or is rose hips dangerous to take as a supplement; Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Improving eating habits and involving in somewhat physical activity is beneficial for patients with depression. Bad eating habits can cause fluctuation in the blood sugar levels, which in turn may strengthen the spells of depression. Along with poor eating habits, some people may be allergic to some foods that may add up the SAD symptoms of the disease.

Typical SAD Symptoms

We have discussed above that the people living in sunny areas are less prone to SAD symptoms. The reason is that vitamin-D is formed in the sunlight. Vitamin-D is useful in preventing or decreasing the intensity of SAD symptoms. If sunlight is not available in some areas of the world, Vitamin-D supplements should be used. Similarly, regular exercise may help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. In the same way, stress control mechanisms are also helpful for the patients with SAD.

Eating certain foods that contain some specific amino acids like tryptophan is helpful in decreasing depression. Tryptophan is an amino acid which is precursor of neurotransmitter serotonin. Usage of the foods that contain such amino acids may increase the levels of serotonin in the body, which in turn decreases depression. These foods act like natural antidepressants. Omega Daily is also a very useful natural antidepressant.

SAD Medication

Many other foods like walnuts, dark chocolates, chicken, turkey, salmon, swiss cheese, citrus fruits, spinach and popcorn are antidepressant foods and can be used as natural antidepressant for the patients with SAD instead of SAD medication. These natural antidepressants may be the alternative for SAD medication. In short, food and diet modification is helpful in the prevention of SAD. Reviewing all the SAD information provided by doctors, nutritionists and medical researchers, the following points must be borne in mind regarding the effects of diet on SAD:

Proper diet modification
Balanced diet containing all the necessary nutrients
Basking of sunlight or use of vitamin-D supplement
Taking diet which contains amino acids like tryptophan
Natural antidepressants

Now, it is clear that diet plays an important role in the management of seasonal affective disorder. People must contact the concerning physician for more SAD information and SAD medication.