Winter Blues, or SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Well the winter continues to hang on here in the Midwest with cold and frigid air blewing in almost every day. At times this makes me a little depressed as I love sunshine and warm breezy days of summer. I know some people suffer more than others during dreary winter days and seem to stay in a gloomy mood most of the winter. It seems cloudy days and gloomy weather in parts of the country goes on for several months. Many experience depression and feeling moody during this time of year and researchers have found out that part of this problem is related to the lack of exposure to sunlight. So light therapy using "light boxes" are sometimes used. In a more recent 30-day study, Vitamin D therapy was compared with the two-hour daily use of "light boxes". The result; depression was completely resolved in the Vitamin D group, but not in the light box group. Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can restore some of your Vitamin D supply. But during winter months the sunlight is in shorter demand..thus hindering your body's natural conversion of sunlight into Vitamin D-3. Some foods contain Vitamin D but don't normallly increase Vitamin D levels. Most additives of Vitamin D are synthetic and aren't as potent as what the body reqiures, so it is best to supplement with a a quality Vitamin D that is the same form that your body makes from sunshine. I use VitaCal-Mag D from the company where I order Health and Wellness Products. Note product list below.