When you think about it, much of our behaviour changes with the seasons. Our eating patterns certainly do — we go from enjoying crunchy fresh salads in summer to craving hearty comfort food in winter. Without our consciously realising it, our cold-weather eating preferences can prompt us to make not-so-nutritious choices that can rob us of energy and our overall sense of wellbeing.
Cold weather also encourages us to be inactive. Faced with the prospect of a wet weekend, most of us would opt to stay curled up on the sofa. But lack of activity makes the body feel sluggish, which can bring on the blues.
Can a quick burst of winter sunshine banish the blues? Sunlight is our best natural source of vitamin D, and some studies link a lack of this key vitamin with a heightened risk of depression.
As Australians,we like to think we get plenty of sunshine, but in winter, we often don’t. We’re less likely to be outdoors, and when we are, we’re rugged up, exposing less of our skin to light. Shift workers are at particular risk of being vitamin-D deficient, as are the elderly, people who drive for a living and office workers. In fact, anyone who sits behind glass windows and looks out at the sun all day may think they’re enjoying the rays’ benefits,but they’re not.
According to Cancer Council Australia, people living in central or southern regions (including Sydney and Perth) should expose their skin to sunlight for two to three hours per week in winter. Worried about harmful UV rays? Council guidelines suggest that regular sunscreen use has little effect on our vitamin-D levels.
Can food and exercise help ease the blues? Yes. Although healthy habits aren’t a cure, many people find they can minimise their symptoms by enjoying a healthy diet and staying active.
