Beat the Winter Blues With These Top 7 Tips

Ever feel a little down in the dumps at winter? You're not alone. 

Nobody is ever excited for the cold, short, dark days, and in fact there may be a good reason why. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately abbreviated to S.A.D, is a term used to describe the negative psychological and physical effects brought on by winter, and more specifically, our lack of vitamin D. 

Symptoms of S.A.D include:

• a persistent low mood

• a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities

• irritability

• feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness

• feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day

• sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning

• craving carbohydrates and gaining weight

In winter, days are considerably shorter, and so is our exposure to that vital vitamin. Extreme coldness also affects our vitamin D levels, leaving many of us feeling lethargic, miserable, and counting the days to Spring.

If you're feeling the onset of a little winter S.A.D-ness, follow our top 7 tips to keep feeling warm in your heart, and happy in your soul.

ORANGE JUICE AT I-JUICE

Fruit juices are packed full of nutritious vitamins and when it comes to vitamin D, a refreshing cup of fresh orange juice will keep the winter blues at bay. For the tastiest, head over to I-Juice on Guangdong Lu. There's also some great other options on the menu so experiment and see which you like. If you collect ten juice stamps you get one cup free!

SUN BED SESSION AT TANNING ISLAND

Sun beds have a bad reputation and are closely linked with dread skin cancer and rightly so. If you abuse sun beds, long term exposure to ultra violet light runs the risk of developing skin cancer. However, in sensible doses, sun beds are one of the best sources of vitamin D. Remember, the goal of a sun bed is not to get a golden tan. If your skin darkens, although you may like it, it's a sign of damage. Limit your sessions to 3 minutes to begin and gradually increase if you would like longer exposure. The Tanning Island in the heart of Xujiahui offer a great, clean service with reasonable prices, so check them out for a feeling of warm this winter.

FISH FROM SHANGHAI NO. 1 SEAFOOD VILLAGE

Fish, particularly fatty, oily fish, is one of the best foods you can eat for vitamin d. Don't be put off by the fatty description. We all need fat to live, and the kind found in fish such as mackerel, tuna and salmon is the good kind! If you think some of your friends are a little moody these days, take them to Shanghai No 1 Seafood Village for Pan-Fried Codfish, or choose a spicy option for extra warming and mood boosting effects!

SUPPLEMENTS FROM HOLLAND AND BARRETS

Can't make it to Yellow Mountain? Don't like fish or orange juice. No problem, there's still an excellent way for you to get vitamin D. Supplements such as vitamin d tablets or even omega 3 capsules are designed specifically for you to reach your dietary requirements. Holland and Barrett's on Nanjing Lu stocks a huge range of supplements at reasonable prices. If you really want to be healthy, consider multivitamin supplements which contain all your vitamins and minerals you may be missing from your diet.

 SUN RAYS AT YELLOW MOUNTAINS

The best source of vitamin D is from sunlight and where better to attempt to catch some winter rays than The Yellow Mountains? This World Heritage Site offers spectacular natural scenery including oddly-shaped pines and rocks, and mystical seas of cloud. If you’re lucky enough to visit when the clouds are low, enjoy uninterrupted sun rays which will boost your mood for the whole winter! 

EGG YOLKS AT KOMMUNE

Eggs are a convenient way to get vitamin D. They're popular in many breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert recipes. Since the vitamin D in an egg comes from its yolk, it's important to use the whole egg—not just the whites. You can add one to one of Kommune’s Classic Wraps for a lunch time snack!

YOGA AT DRISHTI VINYASA YOGA SHALA

Regular moderate exercise has been proven time and time again to boost mood and production of “feel good” hormones such as dopamine. Try something new this winter with a yoga class at Drishti Vinyasa Yoga Shala. They’re currently running a promotion where you can receive a 10% discount off membership until December 15th if you mention Shanghai WOW! 

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