Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Dr. Lynne Kavulich

As winter draws near so do the days of driving to and from work in the dark. Since many people work indoors, the decrease in sun exposure during winter months leads one out of every five Americans to suffer from wintertime blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is due to deficient levels of vitamin D, which is converted to its active form during sun exposure. Signs of SAD include depression, overeating, weight gain, excessive sleep, increased pain sensitivity, and social withdrawal. The allopathic or medical approach to treating these symptoms is altering brain chemistry with antidepressant medication. Certainly, there is a time and place for such action. However, in the case of SAD there is a better solution.

Since SAD is caused by lack of sun exposure, the obvious solution would be to expose yourself to more sunlight. If you are not able to do this, another option is installing full spectrum light bulbs in your home. Full spectrum lighting incorporates more wavelengths of light than other forms of lighting, making it more like natural daylight. Verilux and BioPure Full Spectrum Lights are good brands.

Supplementing your diet with Vitamin D is important. If you work indoors and don’t get enough sun it is important to do this, even in the summer months. One of the best sources of Vitamin D is cod liver oil. Quantum Cod Liver Oil offered at American Wellness Care is solvent free. This pure concentrated U.S.P grade from Norway, is the best quality in the world. Quantum Cod Liver Oil is naturally rich in EPA/DHA for healthy memory, attention and brain function and is Dr Kavulich’s personal choice for her family and patients.

During the winter months we naturally become tired earlier in the day. This cycle follows the natural fluctuation in the serotonin/melatonin system. Melatonin (sleep hormone) increases with less sunlight in the winter, making us tired earlier. So, listen to your body and get more rest when you feel tired.

Dr. Lynne Kavulich specializes in balancing brain chemistry with dietary changes, whole food nutrition and amino acids. On your next nutrition consultation give us your comments on this article and receive a $5:00 gift coupon to use on your visit. As always, in dealing with any health challenge, it is important to eat a healthy well-balanced diet, get regular exercise, and maintain a proper functioning nervous system.

My general recommendation for eating a healthy diet is if you want to be more alive than dead, eat foods that are more alive than dead. With exercise it is important to follow a professionally designed program so that you are strengthening and stretching your muscles in a balanced fashion. A healthy spine and nervous system is only achieved through regular chiropractic care.

It is important to support your body by making healthy choices today. It is much easier and less costly to maintain your health than to regain it once it is lost. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office.

For more information Dr. Lynne Kavulich can be contacted at American Wellness Care 1061 Route 82 Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. (845)221-1201 or visit us at the website www.feel-great-at-any-age.com.