Blue Monday: Are you experiencing the most depressing day of the year or do you have SAD? – Express

Landing on 20th January 2020, Blue Monday has been calculated as the most gloomiest of them all. However, research commissioned by The Weather Channel and YouGov has found that one in three people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) a winter depression that is lifted once spring arrives.

Curiously, the findings report that women are 40 percent more likely than men to experience symptoms of the condition.

The NHS report that symptoms of SAD can include:

The main theory for this condition, according to the NHS, is reduced exposure to sunlight might stop the hypothalamus found in the brain from working properly.

Making the most of limited sunshine

Wrap up warm and get outside somewhere open and green even if its just for a walk around the park, suggests Braye.

The snowdrops beautiful and bright white flowers have started to raise their heads, and Braye recommends heading to the woods or one of the National Trusts snowdrop sites to see new life push through the darkest of days.

Mood-boosting diet

As a professional nutritionist, Braye knows a thing or two about a healthy diet.

A growing body of evidence shows that our beneficial gut bacteria can help support positive mood and emotional well-being, via what is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis, says Braye.

Fermented sauerkraut and kimchi deliver lots of beneficial microbes, she adds.

Fermenting is super easy and can be done with almost any type of vegetable from cabbage to carrots and beetroot.

Braye endorses enrolling on a local fermenting workshop to learn how to ferment your own vegetables.

Eating well is important when it comes to improving mood, she continues.

Aim to increase your intake of colourful fruit and veg by setting yourself realistic targets (eg. two to three different colours of veg with each evening meal and a side salad with every lunch).

The nutritionist also recommends inviting friends or family round on Blue Monday and getting them all to bring a nutritious colourful dish to share.

And, she doesnt bash the supplement route, either.

Try taking a good quality live bacteria supplement, such as Bio-Kult Multi-Strain Advanced Formulation.

It comes with 14 different strains of live bacteria.

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Blue Monday: Are you experiencing the most depressing day of the year or do you have SAD? - Express