|  | Conditions Treatments | Depression

Foods to Help Seasonal Affective Disorder

Many people turn to food for comfort, often choosing something sweet. But those suffering from seasonal affective disorder might actually suffer worse conditions by going the "sweet" route. Instead, there are some good food options that could provide comfort, as well as help the SAD sufferer battle her condition, and these foods won't cause you to pack on the pounds like the sweets will.

  1. Seasonal Affective Disorder Defined

    • Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is experienced during the changing of the seasons--generally from fall to winter, but it can also be experienced when summer turns to fall. The reduction of daylight hours is believed to have some influence in the symptoms of depression and fatigue experienced only during this time of year by those with SAD.

    Bad Food Choices for Those with SAD

    • Why is it we have such a term as "comfort food" in our country? And why is this "comfort food" typically the most fat-laden foods of all: ice cream, candy bars, cake and cookies? No one can really say, but regardless of country or culture (or mood), there are just some foods--in spite of their comfort appeal--that just aren't good for us. And sugar-laden snacks make that list.

      But in people with SAD, who are already experiencing mood and physical energy level changes, eating a food laden with sugar, which will cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, is just going to make matters worse.So avoiding sugary foods altogether is one step those with SAD can take towards diminishing the drop in energy and mood they already experience during the winter.

    Food Needs and SAD

    • The flip side of the coin from eating too much sugary foods is just the opposite: not eating enough healthy food altogether, which is another SAD symptom. All of us need a balanced diet, of course, but those suffering from SAD and other types of depression need one even more. The likelihood that people with SAD will eat less healthy foods is a greater probability (due to their depression and the subsequent sudden diet changes or reduced food consumption it causes), resulting in a lack of key nutrients being available for the body and brain to use. Getting proper nutrients is crucial to the formation of mood regulating chemicals and hormones within our bodies that aid us in fighting SAD.

    Foods that Help with SAD

    • The relationship between the brain chemical serotonin and mood has already been established in the medical community and is the reason anti-depressants, which work by boosting serotonin activity and production, are prescribed for those who are depressed. But certain foods--those containing the amino acid tryptophan--have the power to affect serotonin levels positively too. Some of these tryptophan-rich foods are turkey, chicken, fish, avocados, nuts, milk and eggs.

    Foods, B-12, and SAD: What's the Relationship?

    • It has been medically proven that those who suffer from depression generally also have low levels of Vitamin B-12; therefore, some type of nutritional deficiency exists that, if addressed, could aid in the minimization of depression. Four of the foods that are rich in the amino acid tryptophan--fish, poultry, milk and eggs--also happen to contain Vitamin B-12, thus making them even more appealing as an addition to the diets of those suffering from SAD. And, like tryptophan, the vitamin B-12 is also instrumental in the production of serotonin, the chemical in the brain that can elevate mood--and can cause depression when levels are too low.

Depression - Related Articles