Dr. Libby's Winter Food Facts

Dr. Libby’s Winter Food Facts

Every year winter comes around and presents its gifts and challenges to maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind. People tell me daily that they feel exhausted and their mood is flat.  In my office lately, I have had numerous discussions with my very clever colleague Kate, about some of these challenges and just as importantly, strategies you can implement into your daily routines. Here is a summary of what Kate and I came up with to assist our clients.

1. We cannot stress the importance of soul satisfying activities enough! This broad term may vary depending on what makes your soul sing. It can be so good to catch up with dear friends, visit farmers markets on the weekends and be sure, in those breaks of rain, to get outside and get moving. 

2. Shift your focus! Instead of focusing on the chilly air, notice how fresh the air smells after rain!

3. Amp up your feel-good hormones! Movement is one of the best ways to increase endorphins, even though it is something that many people resist. We all know though, that once we are out there, we wonder why we resisted! Keep moving!

4. As the seasons change so do our nutritional needs! A focus on warming foods is essential as our body works to maintain our core body temperature. In nature winter means leafy greens are abundant and with the upcoming Rugby World Cup, perhaps for some, a little liver preparation is in order :) Soups, stews and casseroles are an excellent way to nourish yourself at this time of year. They are also a practical way to eat as you can often create leftovers from these meals so you don't have to cook every night.

Other lifestyle factors that can help with mood include exposure to sunlight and foods rich in omega 3 fats such as oily fish, flaxseeds, walnuts and pecans. Foods high in tryptophan, an amino acid (amino acids are the building blocks of protein) such as fish, seeds and brown rice are also useful.