S.A.D. Celebrity Seeks Dr. Kyle's Expertise
Santa has
been cranky lately.
He's been kinda S.A.D.
He's been less than jolly.
He even gets mad.
Mrs. Claus is noticing how gloomy he seems.
He's no longer having those sugar plum dreams.
What Santa is going through is nothing new.
Perhaps you may be feeling S.A.D., too.
Here's some tips to help you feel better.
And make it through winter's gray, gloomy weather.
As the days grow shorter and the weather turns cooler, you may notice
your mood and energy levels changing. For the most part, feeling a bit
down during the autumn and winter months is nothing to worry about.
But for some people, the change in seasons can trigger Seasonal Affective
Disorder (S.A.D.), a serious condition that needs to be paid some attention.
S.A.D. is a depressive condition
believed to be linked to lack of sunlight.
Symptoms include:
change in appetite
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cravings for sweet & starchy foods |
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fatigue and low energy |
depression |
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social withdrawal |
decreased libido |
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irritability |
difficulty focusing |
Symptoms vary from
person to person, and they can be
severe enough to disrupt daily life.
While S.A.D. can be a frustrating condition, there are many things you can do.
Lighting
One natural treatment is Light Therapy, which involves daily exposure to a
full-spectrum light
that duplicates natural sunlight. When used
regularly throughout the winter months, light therapy has been shown to
reduce symptoms
in as many as 70 percent of S.A.D. sufferers.
Full-spectrum lighting is used throughout my office. Clients remark
how much they enjoy the lighting during their counseling sessions. If
you want more information about full-spectrum lighting, please feel free to
email me at DrKyle@DrKyle.org.
(Advice to Santa: Upgrade
Rudolph's nose to full-spectrum lighting.)
Exercise
As a natural antidepressant,
exercise may alleviate some of the symptoms of S.A.D. Try swimming, biking, lifting weights, yoga, or just walking
outside during the day.
(Advice to Santa: Use chimneys
less and doorways more.)
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can work to
rebalance the body's Qi, relieve symptoms, and
reduce stress.
(Advice to Santa: Go to a
professional instead of using Mrs. Claus' brooch.)
Massage
Massage Therapy has been used in the treatment of S.A.D. as it is reported
to help reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and
increase blood and lymph
circulation,
improve sleep and increase energy levels.
(Advice to Santa: Again, go to a
professional instead of using someone's massage chair gift.)
Travel
Taking a trip to
someplace sunny during the winter months can be an effective
and fun way to relieve S.A.D. symptoms.
(Advice to Santa: Linger a
little longer in the tropical climates Christmas Eve...but not too long.)
Color
Wearing bright colors can
increase positive feelings and
decrease negativity.
(Advice to Santa: I'm suggesting that Santa goes with
red this year with white trim.)
Food and Nutrition
Nature has a way of providing us with what we need when we need it.
This is especially true when it comes to the
foods that become available with each season.
Autumn brings with it a bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that nourish
the body and
support health and well being.
Being aware of seasonal foods and attuning your diet to your body's needs is
a great way to
live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
The harvest season is a time to
prepare your body for the cold winter ahead.
Your diet should shift toward
richer, denser foods
that will provide you
with
extra energy and warmth. Consider increasing your intake of
protein, fats, whole grains, and nuts, but be sure to keep up your
exercise program in order to control weight gain.
Nourishing your immune system is also very important at this time.
Take advantage of
dark green and golden-orange vegetables
that are rich in
beta-carotene to strengthen your body. These include
carrots, pumpkin,
sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, and many more.
It's important to maintain the body's balance during this season by
adding sour foods
such as
yogurt, sauerkraut, leeks, and sour apples
to your diet. Pungent foods such as
garlic, turnips, and horseradish
may also be added
to your winter diet, since they cleanse and protect the lungs.
It's also important to
moderate your caffeine use
this season. As winter settles in, you may notice
yourself feeling a little more tired than usual and increasing your coffee
intake to boost your energy. Before you lift that next cup, consider
having
a cup of tea instead.
Tea has been found to have a
variety of health benefits.
(Advice to Santa: Consult your
doctor before making significant changes to your diet.)
Counseling
For some people even light
therapy, diet, and exercise don't alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D. I
can work with you to learn how to handle negative feelings, thoughts, and
behaviors, which can be extremely beneficial in turning S.A.D. into "happy."
(Advise to Santa: Continue
seeing me as you work through those negative thoughts and feelings.)
By the way, you may already be feeling the
pressure of the
holidays. Even though this can be a joyful time of year, it is
also a stressful time for many. In the spirit of help and
support, I am offering a
free, confidential consultation. Call me at (206) 550-3596
or email me at
DrKyle@DrKyle.org. I'm here to
help.
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Do more than just survive this winter season.
You can be happy, joyous, and free.
I'd love to hear about how you're dealing with winter's gloomy weather.
Feel free to email me
your successes and challenges at
DrKyle@DrKyle.org . I enjoy hearing
about both the good and the not-so-good.
- Dr. Kyle Good
|
For a message that will warm your heart this holiday
season, please click on this link.
http://www.stservicemovie.com
Great
Gifts for the Holidays
"Gift
of Time" Certificates
E-books by Dr. Kyle are
on sale this holiday season.
|
 Another Granny Good
Recipe: Sunshine Sweet Potato Pie
Grandmothers must have a type of
sixth sense when it comes to food. Granny Good was no
exception. She knew to serve food that was not only delicious
but also helpful in fighting against S.A.D. (without even knowing it). From my family to yours, here's Granny Good's "not
so secret anymore" recipe.
Crust
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1¼ cup flour
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¼ tsp sugar
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⅓ cup skim milk
or soy milk
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2 Tbsp vegetable oil
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Filling
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1/4 cup white sugar
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¼ cup brown sugar |
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½ tsp salt
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¼ tsp nutmeg |
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3 large eggs, beaten
or egg
substitute |
¼ cup canned evaporated skim milk
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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3 cups sweet potatoes, cooked, mashed |
To start:
1. Preheat oven to 350° (Fahrenheit).
To prepare crust:
2. Combine flour and sugar in bowl.
3. Add milk and oil to flour mixture.
4. Stir with fork until well mixed. Then form pastry into smooth
ball with your hands.
5. Roll ball between two, 12-inch squares of waxed paper, using
short, brisk strokes, until pastry reaches edge of paper.
6. Peel off top paper and invert crust into 9-inch pie plate.
To prepare filling:
7. Combine sugars, salt, nutmeg, and eggs.
8. Add milk and vanilla. Stir.
9. Add sweet potatoes and mix well.
Putting it together:
10. Pour mixture into pie shell.
11. Bake for 60 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
12.
Cool and cut into 16 slices.
Each serving provides:
Calories: 147
Total fat: 3 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg
Sodium: 98 mg
Total fiber: 2 g
Protein: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 27 g
Potassium: 293 mg |
