{"id":3440,"date":"2020-01-17T16:28:35","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T16:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/?p=3440"},"modified":"2020-01-21T09:42:44","modified_gmt":"2020-01-21T09:42:44","slug":"winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/winter-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>WINTER GETTING YOU DOWN?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The long winter months can leave you feeling tired, sad and cranky.\nYou are definitely not alone as 21% of the UK population feel the same with a\nfurther 3% actually diagnosed with the seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The\n21% are said to have the \u2018Winter Blues\u2019, which is considered a milder form of\nSAD.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sad-face.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sad-face.png 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sad-face-300x250.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHY?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason can be found in our ancestry because our brains are\nstill wired for the bright sunlight of equatorial Africa, where our ancestors\ncame from. In contrast to back then, we now live in a colder, darker climate,\nbut more importantly, we\u2019re spending around 93% of our time inside. As a result\nof our indoor life and darker days, our levels of serotonin (the happy hormone)\nis depleted, and we get more melatonin (sleepy hormone).&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-winter.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-winter.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-winter-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BLUE OR BROWN EYES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People with brown eyes are more likely to suffer from SAD or the\nWinter Blues than those with blue eyes. Blue eye pigment allows more light to\nreach the retina, and this allows for higher production of serotonin in winter.\nBlue eye colouration is thought to have been an adaptation to SAD and general\nmood variability at northern latitudes over the years. Hence why those that\nhave lived in the northern hemisphere have more incidence of blue eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blue-eye.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3445\" data-link=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=3445\" class=\"wp-image-3445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blue-eye.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blue-eye-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/brown-eye.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3446\" data-link=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=3446\" class=\"wp-image-3446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/brown-eye.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/brown-eye-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MAN OR WOMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women are 40% more likely to suffer from SAD or the Winter\nBlues, and it\u2019s most common in women aged 20-50. It\u2019s thought that SAD could be\nan evolutionary adaptation designed to help women of childbearing age save\nenergy and hold onto weight to produce offspring and help them survive winter,\nas it encourages you to sleep more and eat high- calorie foods. This is further\nendorsed by the fact that SAD is less likely after menopause.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sleep.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sleep.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sleep-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SAD OR WINTER BLUES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell-tale signs of having SAD is a low mood, fatigue, cravings\nfor carbohydrate-rich foods and an urge to be alone are all common symptoms of\nthe winter blues. If you have full-blown SAD, you may have highly debilitating\nsymptoms that affect every aspect of your life. SAD shows itself in the summer\nmonths too as feeling very excitable and upbeat to the point of having\ninsomnia. Winter blues produces much less of a contrast with feelings of being\na bit fed up in the winter and boosted by the summer weather to a sense of\nwellness and wellbeing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sadness.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sadness.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sadness-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE NATURAL CURE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get outside in the winter months is the simple advice from the\nmedical profession and natural health practitioners alike. Thirty minutes\noutside, taking part in any activity can make a huge difference. Changing your\ndiet helps too. Cut down on sugary food. It\u2019s harder to do in the winter as you\ncrave carbs and carbs are excellent as long as they don\u2019t come wrapped in\nsugar. Hit the potatoes as they give you a boost of serotonin and give you a\nslow energy burn rather than a rush and drop that you get from sugar. Eat less\nmeat and more fish, especially oily fish. If you are a vegan, include more\nflaxseed or seaweed in your diet. If you don\u2019t like these foods, take an\nomega-3 supplement. Add a vitamin D3 supplement to as this also boosts your\nmood. And socialise. SAD and the Winter blues makes us feel less likely to get\nout there, but that tends to worsen the situation &#8211; so see friends and have\nfun, preferably outdoors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/good-food.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3449\" class=\"wp-image-3449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/good-food.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/good-food-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/friends.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3450\" data-link=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=3450\" class=\"wp-image-3450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/friends.jpg 336w, https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/friends-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>OUTDOOR CURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve heard the advice, and now it\u2019s time to take action.\nDownload the <a href=\"https:\/\/app.geronigo.com\/\"><strong>Geronigo\nApp<\/strong><\/a> onto your phone and have every outdoor activity at your fingertips\nand at the click of a button. So, when you\u2019re feeling low and lethargic, book\ninto a fun outdoor activity with your friends and boost your mood anytime you\nneed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/app-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3451\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By CJ<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to beat winter blues? You are not alone as 21% of the UK population suffer every winter. There is a natural cure and it\u2019s very simple to help yourself.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/winter-blues\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Winter Blues<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[746,836,804,837,835,833,834],"class_list":["post-3440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features","tag-app","tag-bluemonday","tag-getoutdoors","tag-january","tag-sad","tag-winter","tag-winterblues"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3440"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3452,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3440\/revisions\/3452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geronigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}