In the words of Sam Cooke, “a change gonna come.” A change of seasons that is. Believe it or not, we are approaching the close of the year. That said, come November clocks jump back an hour, marking the end of daylight savings time.
“Daylight hours are shorter during fall and winter which results in people having to rise before sunrise and end their work day in the dark,” Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, medical director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association, a stress management expert, and author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women’s Health and The Magnesium Miracle, tells BlackDoctor.org.
As you may already know, a lack of sunshine can increase feelings of depression, tiredness, and even increase the urge to chow down on carbs.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. So, what do experts have to say about how the change in seasons will impact both your sleep patterns and mood?
“Vitamin D and magnesium are important for serotonin production, and serotonin is important for many functions including the sleep-wake cycles. Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight, fall and winter results in a deficiency,” said Dr. Dean.
“Lower vitamin D levels have also been linked to…