Many people have a blue winter without this...

One of the disadvantages to living in Wisconsin or any northern locale is lack of exposure to sunlight.  One cause of the lack of exposure is the short "days" in the winter.  At the shortest of "days," we Wisconsinites see sunlight from 7:20 AM to 4:20 PM.  What's more is if you work a 9-5 job, when you leave for work the sun is just coming up, and by the time you go home, it's already dark.

The second cause of lack of exposure is due to the need to bundle up to keep warm.  Gone are the short-sleeved shirts and shorts, and replacing them are the jackets, hats, and pants.

One of the problems that comes with decreased exposure to the sun is what is commonly referred to as the "winter blues."  After the holidays have passed, and people look forward to the long winter months ahead, it's not unusual for people to start to feel down and depressed, and sometimes our feelings of being down and out creep into our everyday lives, including at work.

Why does the decreased exposure to the sun cause depression?  Well, there are several theories, including an increased amount of a hormone called melatonin, which causes people to feel sleepy and tired, related to lack of light stimulating the eyes.  Another theory is a decreased amount of serotonin, which is a substance that is theorized to improve one's mood.  A recent study has shown that in the winter time, there is more abundance of a chemical that eliminates serotonin, so therefore a person would have lower levels of the substance in the blood.

What are some of the options people have?  About 4-6% of the population has severe problems with the winter blues, or "seasonal affective disorder," while another 10-20% experience mild symptoms of depression in the winter.  One substance that has been shown to dramatically improve moods during periods of reduced sunlight is vitamin D.

Some studies have shown that doses of 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily had led to marked improvements of the mood of test subjects.  Our bodies can make vitamin D, but in order to do so, we need sunlight to hit the skin.  With limited exposure to the sun in the winter, it is much more important to supplement the vitamin D we are missing out on because we don't spend much time outdoors.

So, if the winter blues have already set in, or if you know they are yet to come, try adding some vitamin D to your daily regimen, and see if you don't feel a little better.  Keep in mind results won't be immediate, but with any vitamin, you should start to see a difference within 2-3 weeks.  Good luck!

Best wishes,

-Victor