All tagged Winter

Winter Can Be Hard For Some People

Winter Can Be Hard For Some People

Sarah Shoemaker
Mental Health, Nutrition, A Good Life

We are well into winter now and the clocks have fallen back which means we are in the dark a lot, and that can be hard for some people. I want to touch on a few tips to help keep the winter sadness to a minimum, yes there are things you can do on a daily basis to help not feel so bad during the dark months of winter.

I want to focus on just 2 neurotransmitters: Serotonin and Dopamine, both make us feel good but there are a few differences.

Dopamine:

  • Is triggered by short term pleasure ie) on-line shopping, dating apps, eating sugar

Serotonin:

  • Is triggered by acts of long term satisfaction ie) maintaining a regular exercise program, self care practices, healthy relationships

Dopamine:

  • Touches 5 brain receptors

Serotonin:

  • Touches 14 brain receptors

Dopamine:

  • Can be addictive and can leave you wanting more

Serotonin:

  • Non addictive and can make you feel happy and content with what you have

Have You Started to Supplement Vitamin D?

Have You Started to Supplement Vitamin D?

Sarah Shoemaker
Education, Nutrition

Winter means a lot less sunshine especially if you live north of the 49th parallel, and especially if you live on the West coast (like I do), where we can go for several days even weeks without seeing the sun! UGH!

Yep, poor Vitamin D is having a hard time being produced by our bodies during the winter because of the lack of sunshine. So, it is important to supplement Vitamin D at this time of the year.

Supplementing vitamin D is essential for our bone health, teeth, nervous system, heart function and normal blood clotting.

I know there are some people who believe that we shouldn’t have to supplement any nutrients as long as you eat a healthy and balanced diet. I understand that however, you are not what you eat but what you digest. What you eat healthy or not including, supplements, is at the mercy of your digestion.