SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, can sound downright silly to those who have not experienced it. “You mean to say that you get depressed when winter time rolls around and there’s less light? What are you, a vampire?” Sadly (pun intended), those who suffer from SAD are just like the rest of us but they feel the changes of the seasons just as much as a bear hibernating for the winter. What exactly is SAD? According to webmd.com, SAD is “a form of depression that tends to occur as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter.

What Causes SAD?

It is believed that affected persons react adversely to the decreasing amount of light and the colder temperature as autumn and winter progress.” Depression, wanting to sleep all the time and sometimes a craving for starchy foods are symptoms of SAD, and while they may sound mild, imagine dealing with them for the long winter months. SAD isn’t a hopeless battle for those who suffer from it, so get some help in turning your SAD into happiness and joy.

Let There Be Light

One of the most effective treatments for SAD is lighting therapy. Light therapy comes in two forms, bright light treatment and dawn simulation. In bright light treatment, you sit in front of a light box for a specified amount of time (usually in the mornings), and you can actually buy these yourself. Plug one of these boxes in while you’re working in the morning, having breakfast or reading the paper, and enjoy its warmth for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Dawn simulation is just like it sounds: you have a certain amount of light shining on you while you sleep and it increases toward the morning hours. The treatment’s effectiveness varies, but since it’s not always practical for busy people to sit in front of a light box for a long period of time, dawn simulation seems to be the most efficient use of time for people on the go.

photo credit: Flóra

photo credit: A. Belani

If you are wise, you do your best to eat a healthy-well balanced diet. But some people are more prone to food allergies than others (maybe lactose intolerant or allergic to wheat), and other choose a eating style that might be devoid of certain foods (vegetarians or vegans). You have no doubt heard of various types of dietary supplements, but how do you know what is safe and appropriate for you and your diet?

What is a Dietary Supplement?

According to the National center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a dietary supplement has to meet the following criteria:

• It is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet and that contains one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, or any combination of the above ingredients.
• It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form.
• It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
• It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

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photo credit: Peter Sheik

What comes to mind when you think of the word “personal”? Something that is specifically yours; something that you need and want, something that suits you and makes you happy? While these might not be Webster’s exact definition of the word, they come close to covering how people feel about thing being made personal for them. The average U.S. citizen spends about $6,280 per year on health care per year. For someone making around $45,000 a year, that is roughly 7% of their salary. While that may not seem like a lot, factor in all the bills and other expenses facing you on a daily basis and you realize that every dollar spent is precious. $6,280 could buy a used car, could help eliminate credit card debt, but in order to keep yourself healthy, it gets spent on health care.

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photo credit: Philippe Romagon

You are probably familiar with the term “vegan.” Maybe you know a good deal about it already, or possibly you think the word is some anarchist, hippie term whispered in patchouli-scented coffee shops. However you think about this eating and lifestyle choice, this article will help dispel any myths about what veganism really is, help present the facts on its benefits and drawbacks, and guide you in your considerations for your own health and wellness choices.

What is Vegan?

Vegan, or veganism, is a diet lifestyle choice that seek to exclude the use of all animal products. For eating, this means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no cheese, nothing that comes from any animal whatsoever. Some vegans also chose to not wear or buy any products made from leather, suede or other such animal items. Simply put: if it has any animal-based components, strict vegans avoid it. How far you take veganism would be completely up to you.

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