Winter Blues

The colder weather and darker days can result in increased gloominess and fatigue. During the winter months, we can struggle with this more due to reduced sun exposure.

This can result in our bodies producing less vitamin D which is needed to product serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter important for regulating sleep, mood, appetite and energy levels.

It can also cause an increase in melatonin production. The darker days signal to the pineal gland to release more melatonin which can disrupt the circadian rhythm and increase sleepiness and fatigue.

We tend to consume more inflammatory foods like sugar and alcohol around the winter months and this can have a direct impact on our mood. These foods feed unhealthy bacteria in our gut which can potentially impact our immune system as well.

Did you know that cells in our gut produce a large proportion of serotonin (estimated at 90%) in our bodies?

PMID: 25860609, 21750565

What is the Difference Between Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Winter Blues:
sadness during fall and winter months some trouble sleeping lack of motivation.

Seasonal Affective Disorder:
severe sadness during fall and winter months frequent sleep and eating issues depression that limits normal functioning and motivation.

Thankfully there are some proactive approaches like getting outside, maintaining a sleep schedule, using sun lamps, eating nutrient dense foods, exercising, and using aromatherapy that may help counter some of these symptoms.

Some of our favorite essential oils for mood support include:

+ motivation
+ citrus fresh
+ stress away
+ peace and calming
+ white angelica
+ valor

---