The winter blues is a common complaint among Americans. Depression is often accompanied by symptoms of fatigue and decreased immunity. Implementing a few naturopathic tips into your daily routine can help prevent these complaints.
• Check Vitamin D Status—Low vitamin D has been linked to decreased immune function, increased risk of heart disease, cancer and depression.
• Stay Hydrated—Dehydration leads to dry and cracked mucus membranes, which are our first line of defense against bacteria entering our body. Chronic dehydration leads to degenerative disease and low mood.
• Get to Bed Before Midnight—Tossing and turning all night not only depletes your energy, mood and quality of life, it is also a major contributor to chronic illness. Melatonin, the hormone produced during sleep, can protect against cancer, depression and other mood disorders.
• Exercise—This is probably one of the single-most effective antidepressants available. Get up and get moving. This will decrease depression and anxiety, balance blood sugar and help the body detoxify.
• Take a Multivitamin—Taking a daily vitamin is a simple way to be sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function properly.
Source: Dr. Siobhan Hanlon, ND, of Inner Source Health. Devoted to helping people through her holistic approach, she continues to make huge strides at Inner Source Health, unifying science with natural complementary methodologies. Inner Source Health has offices in Huntington and New York City. For more information or to schedule a free 10-minute consult, call 631-421-1848 or visit InnerSourceHealth.com. See ad on page 27.
