This is really SAD: the reason you often gain weight in winter
As soon as the first autumn storm arrives and the supermarkets have been shoving chocolate-covered ginger nuts in my face for weeks when I walk into the store, I have to do everything I can not to immediately take home a cozy feast of seasonal sweets for myself. What is it about the dark months that makes me want to eat just a little more? And yet I invite Tony Chocolonely to my home on the couch, just because I had to bike so hard through the rain that day. There is good news and there is bad news. First the good news: it’s not your fault, or the supermarket's fault. But the bad news: it’s SAD. Not SAD as in ‘sad’, but SAD as in: ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’.
It doesn’t make us happy
The name is already appropriate. Because of SAD, we feel the need to eat a bit more, we are tired, and we can concentrate less well. The reason for this has to do with the fact that we tend to hide a bit more in our burrows during the winter months. As a result, we lack daylight, which means we have less serotonin available. This is produced, for example, when we have walked in the sun for a while. Due to a lack of this substance, or rather: neurotransmitter, we are simply a lot less positive. Suddenly you feel tired all the time, gloomy, and concentrating is also impossible. But yes, then you end up in a vicious circle. Because this only gives you less energy and motivation to go outside.
Sleep also has quite an influence
And then there’s that substance we all know. Melatonin, that wonder substance that helps your biological clock know when it’s time to sleep, is produced extra in the dark days. The bad news? In winter, it’s almost permanently dark. In short: this means you have a constant need for sleep. And if you wake up tired? There’s a good chance you’ll crave fatty foods. Carbohydrates and other comfort food that aren’t exactly known for helping you maintain your waistline. Several studies have shown that when you’re tired, you automatically have more cravings for sweet and fatty meals.
But there is hope: we can prevent it
Lesson number 1 if you live in a country like the Netherlands where the sun hangs behind the clouds about 99% of the time: take vitamin D. We Dutch people don’t get enough serotonin. It sounds very simple, but do make an effort to go out. If you really don’t feel like an autumn walk, you can always opt for light therapy to regulate melatonin production. And yes, it’s a no-brainer, but healthy eating and hydration also help you not to gain weight, but rather to make healthier choices. Are you making sure you get enough and regular sleep? Otherwise, it’s so easy to give in to your cravings. And especially plan a lot of social activities to combat boredom, instead of ordering another portion of that delicious and cozy comfort food when you feel lonely and gloomy.
