The weather’s been kind of erratic and extreme this year, it’s either too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry – all signs that global warming is catching up to our deeds. But really what can we do besides try to watch what how we leave and take a conscious step towards eco conservation. So now we’re headed into the winter times…a favourite season for some, a dreaded period for others as thoughts of being stuck in bad traffic, having to shovel snow off the driveway, dealing with kids all grumpy from catching the cold…
Personally I like winter because it simply means its Christmas! And who doesn’t love Christmas!
But as a woman I’ll have to admit I share a love hate relationship with the season. I love it for the atmosphere, but I hate it for the effect it has on my skin. Granted I’m a lazy one when it comes to skin care and most of the time I can get away with it (thank you mummy for good genes) but against the force of the cold winter air… I don’t stand a chance.
I’m sure it isn’t just me who notices how dry skin, puffy eyes and dark circles are just so much more amplified during winter. On some days I’m even convinced that we age overnight during the freezing season. And the experts confirm this observation as they give their scientific reasons for it – lower level of vitamin D in the body during the colder months.
Vitamin D is something we can get naturally from the sun, along with serotonin which is that feel good chemical your body produces. So to beat the winter eye bags here’s what we need to do.
1. Get sufficient sleep with naps in between during the day (15 mins is good enough)
2. Watch the diet – if you ever wondered why you’re always hungry when it’s cold, well it’s got to do with the fact that the lack of sunlight reduces the effectiveness of the hormone leptin. Leptin is what tells us we’re full. Also, cut down on the salt!
3. Increase the vitamin D in the body through supplements but bear in mind that vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, so your choices may come limited. Known rich sources are salmon, sardines, cow’s milk, goat’s milk, shiitake mushrooms, and eggs.
So there you have it…the winter eye bag mystery solved! Let’s just see if the solutions work.
