KICK THE WINTER BLUES TO THE FRIGID CURB
The colder and darker it gets, the urge to hide indoors increases – preferably wrapped up in a snuggie with an intravenous of hot chocolate coursing through your veins. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) hits many people during the winter season, but there are definitely ways that you can kick the winter blues to the frigid curb.
Here are some ideas to add to your diet and routine to help you make it through winter as a happier and healthier person!
5 WAYS TO KICK THE WINTER BLUES TO THE FRIGID CURB
Enjoy a matcha latte while you take a vitamin D supplement
Low levels of vitamin D— triggered by low intake of vitamin D and lack of sunlight exposure — is a hallmark symptom of SAD. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it needs to be taken with a fat in order to be properly digested and used by the body. A matcha latte made with cow, almond, or soy milk is the perfect drink to sip on when you take your vitamin D supplement in the wintertime.
Make matcha a ritual before your workouts
Studies have shown matcha helps give your metabolism a kick, increasing your calorie burn during workouts and also helping get you in the mood to make it to the gym. Plus, people who suffer from SAD often have trouble sleeping at night or getting up in the mornings. Matcha can help you get int to the healthy habit of establishing a daily routine and alleviate symptoms of seasonal depression.
Schedule a matcha date (instead of coffee) with a friend
In the winter months, it’s more important than ever to commit to socializing for your mental health. Preparing a delicious matcha drink is a great way to spend quality time with a loved one and also combat seasonal effective disorder. Plus, the caffeine in matcha is processed very differently by the body than the caffeine found in coffee, making it a great choice to have as an energy pick-me-up in the evenings.
We’d say that snapping a photo over two brightly colored cups of green matcha is a great way to share healthy habits with other friends via social media too!
Wind down with matcha instead of wine
Matcha is a strong anti-inflammatory packed with phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that also delivers a calming sensation. Unlike a glass of wine or coffee, matcha delivers a relaxed alertness that also has a mood-boosting effect, which can give you the winding down feeling a glass of wine does.
Add matcha powder to your winter recipes
Skip the artificial coloring agents and use matcha to add a natural and happy pop of color to your cookies, cakes, frosting, and more. Just adding green matcha powder to any of your favorite baking recipes is an easy way to give your confections a healthy kick as well as a beautiful bright green hue that helps evoke a feeling of joy. Matcha’s green tea flavor pairs well with chocolate, vanilla, ginger, lemon, and more.
Matcha also tastes delicious and adds a burst of wellness to any warm cup of hot chocolate in the winter.
The more we encourage each other to get out there and be active, the more we honor our sense of fulfillment and positivity.
Matcha is a great energizer to get motivated and participate in healthy habits.