7 Proven Ways to Battle Old Man Winter — And Win.

The days are shorter. The nights are longer.

We tend to eat more and workout less.

Family stressors.

It’s more than enough to shut your body and mind down.

And because there are people depending on you on the job and off, we need to keep you in tip-top shape all winter long.

And the number one threat to your health and sanity this winter?

It could be something called SAD.

The full name for SAD is Seasonal Affective Disorder.

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal depression is a more common term for a condition named SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). SAD is a recurring depression that often occurs in the late fall and winter months.

It happens because we’re inside more. And get less sunlight.

Many people think there’s nothing you can do about it.

That’s not true.

Contrary to common belief, you can successfully combat seasonal depression long before you feel its effects.

Here’s a few ideas to get you through the next few months…

#1 — Guard Your Mind.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is no joke. And the further north you are, the more serious and the more common this condition becomes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, winter onset SAD can also lead to:

• Oversleeping
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Tiredness or low energy

They go on to say, SAD can get worse and lead to problems if it’s not treated.”

These problems can include:

• Social withdrawal
• School or work problems
• Substance abuse
• Other mental health disorders such as anxiety or eating disorders
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Obviously, you’ll want to do whatever you can to guard against these threats.

Here are some of the best ways to do that…

1. Get outside in the sunlight when you can. Even walking to grab lunch or a coffee, or just standing in the sun for 5 minutes can help.
2. Keep, or start, exercising. By now you’ve heard all the reasons to keep exercising. Combating SAD is another.
3. Take supplements proven to protect your mind. These include St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo Biloba and bark extracts. All of which we formulated as part of the Mind Matrix in our pack.

#2 — Support Your Heart

Cold weather can add strain on your heart as it works overtime to pump blood to your extremities to keep them warm.

That’s why it’s important to give your heart the support it needs through vitamins like B6 which can decrease the chance of clots.

Minerals like L-Citrulline, which can also improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure.

These and other heart supporting vitamins and minerals can also be found in the Heart Support Matrix in our 6 in 1 packet.

Keep exercising too. Aim for 150 total minutes of moderate exercise per week.

#3 — Support Your Lungs

We’ve all been out in the cold and experienced that pain of taking a deep breath and the cold air feels to your lungs like ripping an extra strength bandaid off of your skin.

Your friend here is Vitamin C and an overlooked supplement called Cordyceps which can reduce inflammation in your airway.

Both are available in the Respiratory Support Matrix inside, you guessed it, .

#4 — Protect Your Adrenal Glands

Keeping your adrenal glands in check is a critical component of overall physical and mental health.

The hormones produced by your adrenal glands are essential to keeping your metabolism and blood pressure in check, as well as your stress response.

Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb known to reduce cortisol, one of the key hormones tied into tension, while L-Tyrosine helps maintain a healthy balance of these same hormones that can become depleted when you’re put under pressure.

#5 — Manage Blood Sugar

We all tend to crave more comfort foods in the winter months. Add in Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, College Football Playoffs, the SuperBowl, and Valentines Day and it’s a recipe for adding about a gazillion pounds of sugar to your diet.

Now, we’re not ones to say you shouldn’t eat all that amazing stuff. That’s up to you. We do believe that enjoying those treats, in moderation with friends and family, actually has some benefits because of the social joy it brings.

Even so, a supplement called Apple Cider Vinegar can help support healthy blood sugar levels.

You can either drink the stuff or just know it’s already in your Reload supplement pack .

#6 — Boost Your Immune System

Let’s face it, your mother was right, you really should eat your fruits and veggies.

Why? They offer incredible support to your immune system.

And we’ve all seen how important that is over the last 2 years, right?

has a proprietary blend of 42 fruits and vegetables. No chewing, peeling, or shucking required.

Ok, at this point we’ve probably annoyed the crap out of you with the not so subtle pitch to buy some freaking Reload and protect yourself, and those you love, from SAD this season.

So, let us end with another idea that doesn’t require you to buy anything…

#7 — Stay (or get) Social…

Being socially active is an important part of keeping your spirits up during the wintertime. Here are some ways to do that…

• Host a weekly dinner with friends. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It’s about the people, not the food.
• If the weather allows, consider cocktail night for the ladies or poker night for the guys.
• See if you can find a new hobby. Try a group fitness class instead of working out alone. Try painting, cooking, or even a book club (many local libraries have these types of things on their schedules already).

There are more ideas but you get the idea… get around other people outside of work.

Finally, you can effectively combat seasonal depression by being aware of both your behavior and environment. Make a conscious effort to boost your own spirits and refrain from slipping into a rut.

Of course, if you fear that you’re suffering from SAD, contact a physician to ensure that your condition is safely treated and whether you need medication or not.

With a few small changes, you can survive — and even thrive — through the dreary winter season.

Reload really is a powerful way to survive and even thrive through the winter. Get some for yourself and maybe even grab an extra for someone you care about.

Originally published at https://thinlineanthem.com.