Positive and negative effects of winter

Negative Effects:

• Less Sunlight: in the winter we see a decrease in sunlight and the change of daylight savings time and therefore lose one hour of sleep and sun. By having less sunlight our serotonin levels decrease which can lead to depression, fatigue and mood swings and it can disrupts our sleep cycles which leads to tiredness and difficult waking up. 
• Vitamin D Deficiency: because of less sun exposure our body produces less Vitamin D, this is important for bone health, immunity and mood regulation, having low Vitamin D leads to fatigue, depression and a weakened immune system.
• Increased Illnesses: colds, flu and respiratory diseases are prevalent during this time, the sun plays such an important role as it helps to fight of cold and flus, due to the decrease in sunlight this makes it harder for our bodies to fight colds.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: depending on where you live, less movement and exercise may occur during the winter season, either because of snow, too cold, low energy, etc. anyone of these can make it challenging to workout which again can impact fatigue, tiredness, etc. 
• Dry Skin / Hair Issues: lack of humidity, cold air outside and heated indoor create a lot of static in your environment and strips moisture from the skin which leads to dryness, irritation and chapped lips. The same goes for your hair and scalp. 

Positive Effects

• Cleansing and Detoxing the Body: cleansing and detoxing the body, in my opinion, is one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially during the winter. There are many benefits internally (intestinal, liver, lungs, etc) and externally (skin, hair, nails, etc) and a great way to detox and get rid of unwanted buildup in your body and prepare you  for the Spring season. 
• Support your Body with Detox Products and Supplements: our bodies need support from vitamins, minerals and detox products year round, unfortunately many of our natural organic foods may contain herbicides or pesticides that can impact your health, these pesticides can contaminate the organic produce and decrease the natural minerals and vitamins the produce contained. Also, if you tend to eat heavy / processed foods or sodas, high-sugary drinks,; it is important to add vitamins and minerals to your diet. Lastly, during the winter months we are getting less sun light and decreased movement it is that much more important to add supplements in our diet. 
• Hearty and Substantive Food Choices During the Winter: there are great hearty food choices you can consume during the winter, this will help you conserve energy, fill fuller, and gives you the vitamins and minerals needed through food.
• Rest / Meditate / Connect with God- Soul and Spirit: one of my favorite things to do year-round, but during the winter, I personally feel I am more intentional; it maybe perhaps that it gets darker quicker and I'm in bed earlier and so i use this time and early morning to connect with God. To find rest in Him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
• Saunas, Steam and Hot Baths: heat whether via hot baths or saunas is a great way to detox our bodies. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and we detox through sweat; this is why sauna, steam baths or hot baths help detoxing the toxins in our body and also keep our skin moisturized, improved circulation, better sleep, weight loss, metabolism boost, lung health and cardiovascular health. 
• Exercise and Movement: Exercise and movement is great year-round, I understand this may be hard during the winter but some form of movement is important, whether it be stretching for 15 min a day or walking for 15 min you can keep the momentum going as the weather and sunlight start to change. Working out supports our immune system, prevents winter weight gain, supports health: lung, cardiovascular, joint pain, circulation, and energy levels.