When winter approaches, several million French people have a drop in morale. Sadness, fatigue… Is it possible to put an end to it?
While some are impatient with the approach of the Christmas holidays, others are brooding. Every year, several million French people suffer from seasonal depression. From October to April, they feel sad, tired. The temptation to take refuge in food and in particular in sweets then becomes irresistible.
Gotta find the light
First, it is important to clarify that seasonal depression is a real disease, with real symptoms: irritability, anxiety, loss of libido or the desire to stay at home. A study published last year in the Journal of Affective Disorders demonstrated that women were more exposed to this “Christmas blues”. Moreover, it is known that the latter is linked to the lack of luminosity. Thus, to fight against this depressive passage it is possible, for example, to buy a light therapy device. The latter can be purchased in pharmacies, supermarkets or on the internet. On the other hand, the device must be as close as possible to daylight, which is not always the case.
Stop the sweets!
Every winter, many French people also gain weight. Not only because of the Christmas log or the repeated raclettes, but also because people suffering from seasonal depression often have a strong desire to take refuge in food, and in particular in sweets. According to a recent study published in the journal Medical Assumptions, you have to resist! Because paradoxically, sugar puts us in a good mood while worsening the symptoms. “[Les sucreries] have an immediate mood-enhancing effect but in high doses they can have pernicious long-term consequences, worsening mood, reducing well-being, elevating inflammation and causing weight gain” , explains Professor Ilardi, a psychologist at the University of Kansas and co-author of the study.
Take care of your microbiome
Also according to the researchers, sugar increases inflammation linked to depression but also affects the intestinal microbiome. Some microbes in our gut thrive on sugar. “They can produce chemical reactions that put the brain in a state of anxiety, stress and depression. They are also highly inflammatory”, explains Professor Ilardi. To avoid this, it is not only necessary to limit Christmas chocolates, but also alcohol, which is full of sugar.
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