Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
- Bill Cosby


An interesting thing my doctor mentioned to me when I was in for my physical a couple of weeks ago. Told me to take vitamin D supplements, it apparently helps to combat "Seasonal Affective Disorder" which becomes rather rampant up here in Michigan since we don't receive enough sunlight. SAD is described as:

"Throughout the centuries, poets have described a sense of sadness, loss and lethargy which can accompany the shortening days of fall and winter. Many cultures and religions have winter festivals associated with candles or fire. Many of us notice tiredness, a bit of weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed and bouts of "the blues" as fall turns to winter."

One of the ways people combat this is by using UV "light boxes" for an hour or so a day. This concentrated UV light stimulates the skin to produce vitamin D natural sunlight would.

Of course UV light has been known to cause skin cancer, so the alternative would be to add vitamin D supplements to your diet. I have been recommended to take 2000 units and the supplements that include calcium.

So if you are feeling a little depressed or "blah", give your body a boost with some vitamin D...




"There is no failure. Only feedback." - Robert Allen