Winter…am I right?  Short days.  Cold weather.  This season can leave you in a funk!  What can you do to re-energize and boost your mood?  Eat!  Look, I am ALL for pharmacological intervention, but for this lil diddy today, I am talking all things food and mood.

Did you know hormone imbalance and micronutrient deficiency can lead to you feeling a bit blue?  I know, right?!  So much can affect your ‘tude.

Here’s what we know:

• Exercise can boost your mood
• Vitamin D can help reduce depression
• carbs can help promote serotonin production
• protein can help with neurotransmitter production
• consuming fruits and vegetables can boost your mood
• omega 3s can help reduce depression

What not to do:  sleep a shit ton, netflix and chill (skip spin class), eat garbage (cokes, fried foods, pastries, margarine, too much red meat-hey, this list is from Harvard so it’s legit).

What to eat:  shellfish, eggs, green leafy veggies, salmon, tuna, mackerel, walnuts, almonds, berries, dark chocolate, kefir, milk, yogurt, and whole grains.  What else can you do?  Exercise, meditate, practice deep breathing, keep a gratitude journal, volunteer and spend time with your fam & friends!

New research links inflammation to depression so be sure you are pushing your anti-inflammatory foods!  Incorporate green leafy veggies, olive oil, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, turmeric and fish.

Look, if you are in a serious funk, call your therapist!  But if find your normally happy self a bit down, take a look at your diet.

Chin up, buttercup.  Spring is just around the corner!

-Caroline