Dr Bob the Health Builder
Weekly Newsletter for Wealthy Healthy Wise
Vignettes to make Life a Little Better and More Prosperous
Holiday Blues!
This newsletter is not meant to pick on people who live in the north with cold weather or be overly positive for people who live in the south; however, when it comes to moods, there is a difference.
The holiday season can be a real downer for some people and uplifting for others, but environment and foods can make a difference.
The obvious problem with the Blues is if we have lost a love one, someone has moved away and we are alone, or loosing a special friend to something petty in our lives at work or our neighborhood.
The other more common word for Holiday Blues is depression which is a problem all year long, but the holiday season seems to elevate depression to new levels.
The single biggest cause of depression is nutrition and sugar and high fructose corn syrup are the leading culprits. The problem is that with the holidays come excessive treats at work, at home and gatherings with friends.
There are, however, some natural things we can do to get our spirits up. One hundred years ago the average US citizen ate 6 pounds of sugar per year and today that number has risen to 175 pounds per year with a large portion coming in December.
"Compelling recent research shows that cramming down sweets and processed carbohydrates has devastating downside for many people, especially those sensitive to sweets. In fact, junk-food junkies report recurring feelings of despair, desolation, and hopelessness, and the more they consume fast-acting carbs, the more depressed they become; then the worse they feel, the more they turn to sweets to give them that deceptive, short-lived high." This was quoted from the book "Sugar Shock!" by Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C.
With this information, it is easy to understand how we can eat sweets during the holidays and get into the "Holiday Blues", no matter where we live.
The second thing that contributes to the "Blues" is the lack of sunshine and in the winter this is a big problem in the northern hemisphere. Actually, this is becoming a big problem anywhere sun block is sold and used. People are covering their bodies to prevent UV rays from reaching the skin with the thought that they are preventing skin cancer. Unfortunately, they are preventing their bodies from making vitamin D. It is now estimated that 50,000 people are dying each year from the lack of vitamin D (this is not to say that we need to burn our bodies to crispy status, but we need at least 20 minutes of sun exposure every day).
When the holidays get into full swing, we are in the middle of winter with shorter days and with little sunshine.
Vitamin D supplementation, shown in recent studies to help lower the risk of certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and other conditions, may also relieve depression, according to new research.
Canadian researchers say the benefit of supplementation may come in creating stores of this vital vitamin in the bloodstream to carry people through the dreary months of winter, when a lack of sunlight may lead to or worsen mood disorders -- most notably seasonal affective disorder, the aptly acronymed SAD that affects some 11 million Americans.
"What this study suggests is that vitamin D deficiency may be an explanation for depression, and that boosting vitamin D levels may help prevent or ease symptoms," Cannell tells WebMD. "But how much vitamin D you need depends on several factors, such as the environment you live in, what time of year it is, your skin type, and sun exposure.
The advice of taking vitamin D supplementation is an important issue, but the form of this supplement is also important. Most vitamin and mineral supplements that are sold in stores are about useless. When you see orange juice, milk, cereals, etc. that say they are fortified with vitamin D, grab onto your billfold, as you are about to be ripped off.
The best vitamin D is from the sun as the statement below states.
The high rate of natural production of vitamin D3 cholecalciferol in the skin is the single most important fact every person should know about vitamin D because it has such profound implications for the natural human condition.
The next best form of vitamin D is from Cod Liver oil. This is not a popular supplement because of it's taste, but if you can find it in a capsule with lemon added the taste isn't too bad. Be sure that it is processed properly. If it is collected in warm waters, shipped during the summer months and not processed promptly, it is about useless. Carlson lab probably has the best cod liver oil and it can be found in health food stores.
There are other supplements for vitamin D, but they must be in a natural form, not produced in a chemical factory. (Vitamin E is another example - the chemical version is not only useless but can cause health problems - and only the natural version should be consumed) Shop in a reliable health food store with knowledgeable people or find a health professional person who can be trusted and purchase from them. (Grocery stores are in the money- making business, not the health business.)
I know it is difficult to avoid sugar and get sunshine to avoid the Holiday Blues, but we all have to try. (Do not resort to artificial sweeteners. They are worse than sugar and high fructose corn syrup.)
My suggestion is to minimize sugar and carbohydrates during the holidays, get a vitamin D supplement and get as much sunshine as possible for the area where you live.
To Your Good Health
Dr Bob the Health Builder
1501 N. Grand, Suite D
Box 192
Gainesville, TX 76240
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