Tis the Season to be Merry, but in truth many people 'enjoy' Christmas alone and many more are affected by SAD; a seasonal form of depression caused by a lack of bright sunlight reaching the retina at the back of our eyes that leads to a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus, a part of our brain that influences mood.

The great news is that recent studies confirm that spending at least one hour outdoors every day

in Winter, ideally in bright, morning sunshine is the best way to avoid SAD completely or reduce its severity. If you go for a brisk walk or have a snowball fight, benefits are even bigger, as exercise stimulates our body's production of endorphins, our very own "happy hormones". 

What you eat can make you happy too! A fresh, bright, antioxidant-rich diet with lots of fruit, vegetables, avocados and nuts rich in Omega 6 and fatty fish rich in Omega 3 & mood boosting Vitamin D reduces inflammation and thereby also lifts your mood. Avoid too many processed foods & alcohol, wrap up warm and let the Winter sun shine on your skin.