#Tips to beat Blue Monday depression & January blues #BlueMonday

Tips to beat Blue Monday depression and January blues

Mums Tips

Fitness & Health

Published on Wednesday, 03 January 2018 11:05

Last Updated on 08 January 2018

Monica Costa

0 Comments

Dear London Mums,

Blue Monday, claimed to be the most depressing and stressful day of the year, falls on 15 January 2018. The day is thought to bring doom and gloom thanks to a culmination of factors, including weather conditions, increased debt, failing New Year’s resolutions and low motivational levels.

It’s a day for many of us to take a deep breath and try to de – stress and relax. Sometimes easier said than done, but London Mums have it covered. This blog features some tried and tested remedies and tips that could help beat Blue Monday and turn it into a positive day instead.

Lemongrass tea

Among the simple and cost effective natural remedies for Blue Monday there’s lemongrass tea. It may be a relatively unknown drink in the UK, but it has a long history of use in parts of Asia, where it is not only drunk for its great taste, but also to aid relaxation. For me personally drinking lemongrass is preventative as I know that January always brings melancholy, mental exhaustion and fear of missing out (FoMo).

Whilst many of us can appreciate that just the act of sitting back and sipping on a good cuppa can aid relaxation, research has uncovered there may be more to the relaxing effect of lemongrass tea than we might expect. It is proven that it can help reduce anxiety, tension levels and is even capable of helping certain muscles relax. Whether this is why those who drink it find it so calming is not yet fully clear, but it appears that there is more to lemongrasses’ benefits than just hearsay. I have recently tried a lemongrass tea by Natur Boutique, experts in high quality organic herbal tea blends, and loved its zesty flavour with a subtle citrus flavours of lemongrass. What I like about this Natur Boutique product is that it is grown without pesticides or fertilizers, and made only with one natural ingredient, and no fillers or additives. Warning! Always consult a doctor before using herbal teas if pregnant or breastfeeding . Green tea is a source of caffeine.

Whatever it is that’ s getting you stressed, Blue Monday or not, why not indulge in a calming cuppa of lemongrass tea?

Swap junk snacks with healthy ones

December is the naughty month of the year, one when we indulge too much in food, drinks and sweets. In 2018 I am determined to swap all junk snacks with healthy ones.

I have come across a range of delicious healthy snacks by Innate (available from Ocado) made with herbs and spices, Beetroot, Butternut Squash and Spinach & Coconut. These air-dried savoury snacks combine vegetables, coconut and almond in order to achieve a happy marriage of exquisite flavour, nutritional balance and slow-release sustaining energy. They are by default gluten, dairy, grain, soy and refined sugar free, as well as paleo and vegan friendly. And they only cost £1.99 our pack.

Skincare

Many of us overindulge over the rainy and gloomy Winter. Whether that means we eat too much bad food, drink too much alcohol or have too many sleepless nights (or in some cases, all of the above…) during the Winter months, the resulting effects are usually etched all over our faces.

These simple skin Spring cleaning and detoxing tips will help regain a young looking skin.

Biggest Beauty Secret Revealed – Skincare from the inside out

Skin Spring cleaning and detoxing tips

One thing always remains true though: You can scrub and massage anti-ageing creams into your skin all you want, but what you put inside your body is just as important as what you put on top of it.

Clean up Your Diet and Give Your Liver Some Love!

10 negative ways sugar affects your health

Why Our Addiction To Sugar Is All In The Mind

The powerful antioxidants present in the following foods help neutralise free radicals and reduce sun damage while giving your skin a super-sized dose of the vitamins and antioxidants that fight wrinkles and give you a youthful, natural glow.

Water

This is a well known remedy and one we all know. Despite knowing it though, I am drinking far too little water than I should.

Your body is made up of between 60-70% water at any given time, so no wonder getting plenty of H2O is vital for a glowing complexion. Low water consumption is the primary cause of dry skin, and you’re likely reaching for heavy creams and lotions to replenish that moisture. However, creams and lotions don’t strike at the root of the problem, meaning you’re spending unnecessary time and money on an issue that can be fixed for pennies a day. Aim for 6-8 eight-ounce glasses a day to keep skin moisturised and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Green Tea

This is one of my favourite. Years ago I swapped Earl Grey tea for green tea and I have never looked back. If you’re concerned about sun damage (past, present, or future), try sipping on more green tea.

Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea can reduce sun damage and protect against skin cancer. Free radicals alter cell genetic code, resulting in mutated proteins. When a mutation happens, cancer may develop. By neutralising free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays, drinking it alongside sunscreen helps reduce the risk of sun damage and skin cancer.

Tomatoes

Why walk down the supplement aisle when you can just eat a tomato? These vegetables, which are actually classified as fruits, are packed with vitamins A, B, C, K, alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene all great antioxidants and help the skin maintain healthy levels collagen.

They’re also super sun stoppers: in a UK study, people who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste a day experienced a 33% increase in sun protection.

Carrots

Within carrots’ bright orange flesh are carotenoids, organic pigments that help protect the skin from everyday pollutants and subsequent wrinkles. Our skin is up against a lot of environmental factors every day like solar radiation and toxins, which combined with stress, leads to a weakened defence against damaging free radicals that attack our skin. Shave a few into your salad for a quick burst of this skin shield.

Sweet Potatoes

In just one sweet potato you will find more than 200% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A, says Banks. You’ll also get three grams of fibre, which keeps your digestive tract healthy. But what does that have to do with your complexion? A healthy and functioning digestive track can help keep your breakouts to a minimum. If only we knew that as teenagers.

Eggs

In the past 30 years there have been numerous reports in favour of and against the consumption of eggs. But finally eggs are now back on the menu for good. They are an excellent source of protein and essential fatty acids, which can help retain water and stay moisturise. Water retention might be bad for weight loss, but it’s good for your skin especially if you’re trying to hide fine lines. Their biggest contribution: vitamin A, which encourages new cell growth and wound healing.

Olive Oil

Skin experts say you can remove make-up, cleanse, and moisturise the skin with plain old olive oil. But when you drizzle some on your bread your skin gets a boost of antioxidants and skin plumping fatty acids. In fact, a 2012 study discovered that consuming 2 teaspoons of the stuff a day was associated with 31% fewer signs of ageing compared to people who only ate about a teaspoon.

Red Wine (yes, you hear me right)

Swap your normal happy hour drink for a glass of red wine, rich in skin-friendly polyphenols and cancer-fighting antioxidant resveratrol. It has anti-inflammatory properties which can protect the body from various diseases caused by inflammation. Beyond healthy skin, you’ll also get a brain boost red wine is known to promote brain health, memory, and the prevention of dementia.

Kale

This green veggie is the top of the list when it comes to beauty super-foods. Kale is full of antioxidants that are a great way of reducing wrinkles because they slow down the ageing process. It’s also rich in wrinkle-fighting vitamin A and has been proven to be helpful in averting a host of skin diseases. It’s also one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that absorb and neutralise free radicals caused by UV exposure.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential to beat Blue Monday depression and the January Blues. It is well known that low Vitamin D levels can lead to tiredness and weaker immune system during the winter months. I got it checked by my GP through a simple blood test and I found out that I had low levels due to the British climate. I am not alone. During the winter months 80% of people in the UK suffer from vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to tiredness and reduced productivity. Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. The problem is though, that given the UK’s location (our northerly latitude to be precise) and limited number of sunshine hours it can be difficult for us to produce enough of this important vitamin. However, the good news is that vitamin D is found in dietary sources such as lean red meat, so incorporating red meat into your diet can help increase vitamin D levels and help address any winter tiredness. You can try and make a few home recipes to support this in addition to taking supplements (check first with your GP how much Vitamin D supplements you need). Vitamin D super recipes:

Spicy beef stir-fry with noodles

Spicy Meatball Soup

Fillet Steak with Green Olive Tapenade

Last but not least going out with your best friends can be a very good way to beat the January Blues. I have managed to get up to 60% discounted deals for London Attractions and theatre shows. Take a look at our dedicated page!

Keep calm and get through Blue Monday !

Monica

monica@londonmums.org.uk

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Monica Costa

Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums