A Nutritional Neuroscientist Offers Tips on How to Avoid the Winter Blues

Shorter days affect the mood of millions of Americans

In general, diets rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and anti-inflammatory nutrients and lower in saturated fat (eg, Mediterranean diet) is associated with better sleep quality. Elena Eryomenko/Shutterstock

The annual pattern of winter depression and melancholy–better known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD–suggests a strong link between your mood and the amount of light you get during the day.

To put it simply: The less light exposure one has, the more one’s mood may decline.