Winter is no longer coming, it’s here. And with the onset of winter come certain challenges that many people potentially have to face. Winter brings a change of weather and longer periods of darkness. The sun goes down earlier, creating longer days. This can trigger a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a mood disorder related to the change in seasons. It typically begins in the fall and extends throughout the winter. SAD can lead to depression, loss of energy, moodiness, loss of interest, change in appetite, increased feelings of sluggishness, increased difficulty in concentration, and sometimes feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of death.
SAD can be brought on by a variety of causes, including a decrease in serotonin levels and a drop-in melatonin level. There are a few treatments for SAD, including increasing your exposure to UV rays via the use of a SAD lamp. But one of the more effective solutions for SAD is to actually make some changes to your diet. If you eat foods high in tryptophan, like the ones listed below, there is the chance that you will be able to boost your serotonin levels and counteract SAD:
- Eggs
Eggs have a prodigious protein content that has the ability to boost your blood plasma levels which will also increase your tryptophan levels. Egg yolks also have many additional benefits besides being rich in tryptophan and tyrosine. They also have omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, and choline.2. Cheese
Cheese is delicious and it’s a favorite for many people. It’s good as a condiment or just on its own, and it is filled with tryptophan. That makes mac and cheese especially great for boosting your serotonin levels because eggs and milk are also great sources of tryptophan.3. Turkey
Turkey is basically stuffed tryptophan – which is why Thanksgiving is a time of such happiness and low stress (right?). But including turkey in your regular winter diet can keep your mood levels up and stop your mood from slipping
