Walks against the winter blues

Lots of exercise and fresh air avoid the winter blues

12/19/2011

Extended walks can help to avoid the so-called autumn and winter blues. Staying outdoors activates the body and counteracts the lack of motivation, said the biopsychologist Peter Walschburger of the Free University of Berlin told the news agency „dpa“.

The lack of sunlight and the wet and cold weather during the winter months make many people's minds. Sufficient daylight and exercise can help here. Thus, walks at lunchtime offer a good opportunity to tackle the winter blues, explained biopsychologist Peter Walschburger.

Lots of exercise and daylight
Lots of exercise and daylight can make a significant contribution to avoid the wintry mood low in the opinion of the expert. Walschburger recommends extensive forest walks at lunchtime to avoid the winter blues. Because these not only offer daylight as „Vitalization and relaxation factor“, but the movement additionally activates the organism and strengthens the circulation. According to the biopsychologist, however, responding to the lack of light in the winter with artificial light is not a sensible strategy. In the morning immediately after getting up to compensate for the lack of daylight by switching on bright lamps, may occasionally be stimulating, but generally advises the expert to start with the light slower. Do this „nature, too“, emphasized the biopsychologist from the Free University of Berlin.

At home, therefore, rather little light would be announced immediately after getting up. Professionals advise the expert to take the commute by bike or on foot to get hold of the first daylight. In addition, yes „also the temperatures in the morning a stimulating element“, explained Peter Walschburger. However, the biopsychologist points out that even in the winter months, the tired and non-driving feeling is not necessarily attributable to the weather. People are „it used to look outside in bad mood and then you can see then just cloudy weather“, so the statement of Peter Walschburger. The actual cause of the troubled mind, however, remains hidden from the person concerned, which is why the reasoning „often in the light“ was sought, explained the expert.

Diet helps to avoid winter depression
In addition to long walks, diet can also help prevent winter blues. For example, corn salad as a vitamin-rich valerian plant with a high iron content offers a good home remedy for winter depression. In general, a mineral-rich diet with high iron, potassium and magnesium content is assumed to have a beneficial effect on winter blues. Fruits and vegetables such as grapes, pears, plums, red cabbage, green beans, peas, carrots, potatoes, kale and soybeans should therefore increasingly be on the menu in winter. Also, various nut varieties such as Brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts or almonds are especially recommended during the winter months. The same applies to oats, wholegrain rice and wheat seedlings. Overall, therefore, also offer a variety of food to distribute the winter blues. (Fp)

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Picture: Günter Havlena