Eating For SAD - What Are The Long Term Affects Of SAD

SAD can cause people suffering from it to crave more sweet things, and thus they tend to over consume these. Carb-rich foods increase depression and tiredness. This also results in them putting on a considerable amount of weight during winter. Therefore, every time they shed their winter fleece, they come out as rotund bears. That makes even their spring miserable as they struggle to shed the extra pounds. This may also be potentially harmful for their health in the long run as frequent weight loss and weight gain increases the risk for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

Therefore, it is very important for people with SAD to watch what they eat. A balanced breakfast is vital for SAD sufferers as this regulates the nervous and hormonal balance in the body, which helps to reduce the symptoms of SAD. Foods rich in protein and complex carbohydrates should be incorporated into the diet in divided servings throughout the day. Examples of such snacks include peanuts, raisins, fruit, low fat cheese on an English muffin, and pop corn. High fat and calorie dense foods should be avoided because they only make a person drowsier, and as a result increases depression. Lean meat and fish are also good foods that are rich in protein and help control SAD symptoms. Fish also provides helpful Omega 3 fats.

Generally foods that alleviate depression should also be used for SAD such as cabbage, whole grain oats, walnuts, and brown rice (which are rich in vitamins B1 and B3 and folic acid). The disrupted eating pattern in SAD has many long term effects too. First of all, this pattern leads to frequent weight gain followed by weight loss. This trend contributes to overall weight gain by the body until a person becomes obese for good as the body acclimatises to being fat. Weight gain has other problems linked to it in the long run. For example, overweight people tend to be at a higher risk of high cholesterol levels and hypertension. The risk of coronary heart disease also increases with higher weight, as does the risk for diabetes mellitus.

People with fluctuating weight are also more prone to degenerative bone problems like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Also, studies have shown that heavier people are more prone to depression. Thus, if people suffering from SAD put on a considerable amount of weight, they only worsen their winter nightmare as the blues engulf them.

Also, these mood variations over a long period of time manifest themselves in such a way that the depression becomes non-seasonal. Thus, the patient begins to feel depressed and tired the whole year round which can really affect their mental health. In extreme cases, this may make a person resort to self harm or suicide. If SAD becomes aggravated to such an extent, the person affected may face many social problems like difficulty in socialising, loss of job because of incapacity to relate to and coordinate with other people.

Rosana Horowitz is an expert in SAD and is familiar with its effects. She has tested many products that lay claim to being the market leader but she has found the Lumie bodyclock clock to be highly effective in the treatment of SAD.