Jen McDaniel, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietitics has some tips on beating with 'winter blues' with food.
1) fruits & veggies
2) omega-3s (supplements) --- Research continues to mound regarding omega-3 fat's and their ability to combat depression and optimize mental health. This relationship makes good sense as our brain and nervous system is largely made up of fats. Omega-3's are referred to as "essential" because they cannot be made by our body and must be obtained through the diet.
3) Vitamin D rich foods (supplements) -- Vitamin D is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" because our body can make vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D levels often dip during the wintertime due to the less daylight, indoor activity, and challenge in obtaining enough vitamin D through foods such as fatty fish, milk, eggs and fortified foods. Low levels of vitamin D are often associated with mood disorders such as depression and seasonal affective disorder.
Read Jen's full blog at McDaniel Nutrition.com.
