Feel great!

Feeling a bit sluggish and sad? You’re not alone. Dwindling sun exposure in winter tamps down the production of mood-boosting hormones, leaving 75% of us struggling with low moods and energy— and one in three of us at risk for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Happily, these tips will help you dodge the doldrums!

Eat a “happy meal”

That is, any meal containing fish or seafood. A review of 15 recent studies proves that upping your intake of the healthy fats in seafood (EPA and DHA) makes blue moods, anxiety, fatigue and other symptoms of winter blues plunge by 53%. The reason: Good fats calm the emotional control center of the brain, plus increase your brain’s production of calming alpha waves. Aim for three servings (the size of a checkbook) weekly for the feel-good boost.

Pause for thanks

A 60-second break to offer up thanks for the health and happiness of a loved one soothes stress and cuts the risk of blue moods by 81%! According to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, pausing to think about what you’re grateful for and the people you love calms overactive adrenals to dial back stress and lift mood in seconds!

Consider curcumin

Taking 1,000 mg. of this turmeric extract daily prevents doldrums for 63% of women, report scientists in the Journal

of Affective Disorders. That makes it as effective as Prozac! Curcumin helps the brain produce feel-good hormones, even during times of stress. Note: Check with your doctor before taking supplements.

Set a sleep schedule

We feel “off” when our internal body clock (which responds to sunlight and controls the happy hormone serotonin) gets out of sync in the fall. To reset your clock and feel 57% happier, Brazilian researchers advise sticking with a consistent bedtime.