Fight the winter depression

Do you have difficulty getting up in the morning?

Oh well, it is that time of the year … the cold, the snow, and the short dark days are all the perfect ingredients for winter depression. As the days get shorter and winter closes, a lot of people feel like staying in, sleeping all day, avoiding social contacts as well as physical activities all the things that will get them into melancholy state of mind. In case you are thinking to yourself “this is so me”, don’t get all sad and blue. Because, apart from exercising (especially, yoga and running) and healthy eating, here are five easy and healthy ways you can incorporate into your daily life to fight against the winter depression.

1. Peppermint Oil – It contains Vitamins A and C, Omega-3 and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron etc. It has various health benefits, helping sadness and depression is one of them. Besides, the menthol in it has an anti-depressant effect. You can either inhale it to give you a huge energy boost, or you can get it in natural form. 
2. Fluorescent lights – Basically, humans feel better after exposure to bright light. It seems simple enough: as the winter days are shorter, you get less exposure to sunlight. Therefore, by replacing lost sunlight with bright artificial light, your mood will improve.
3. Chili peppers - Not only do they add a lot of flavor to our food, but they also have a wide range of health benefits as well. As they contain a chemical capsicum, which boosts your energy. Capsicum increases endorphins and other mood elevating, good feeling substances. Thus, it helps fight depression and relieves stress.
4. Ginger Tea - There are numerous advantages of ginger tea, and one of them is the power of building immunity. A cup of ginger tea helps improve the circulation of blood throughout the body. Moreover, it also improves metabolism.
5. Ginkgo Biloba  -  Its primarily advantage is to improve circulation and enhance memory. Ginkgo can help to improve concentration and focus, and can stabilize moods. Nevertheless, Ginkgo Biloba also works as an antioxidant.

A final note: Find something you love to do in the winter period and cling to it for dear life. Go for a walk and enjoy blessings from nature. Breathe some fresh air and look for the great things about winter. Such as: the joy of cozy movie nights in by the fire, snuggling under blankets. Luxuriate in the warmth and ambience with a good book, a good drink: hot chocolate, coffee, or tea and your favorite person. I love all these things about winter!

But honestly, the best thing about it is when you get to leave it for a while somewhere exotic. Relaxing on a beautiful white sand beach, while enjoying the sun. It is the best. 

My look of the day

Wang Xiao in:

Studded Chambray shirt

Black CHANEL Pouch Bag

Black tight Denim Jeans

Black Oxfords Shoes

A simple yet chic look

Small is beautiful

“Small is the new big.”— Well at least if you ask Louis Vuitton. The French fashion house Louis Vuitton made this delightful and captivating short film named "Small is Beautiful!" Presenting three street style fashion darlings; Elin Kling, Hanneli Mustaparta, and Miroslava Duma playing around the streets of Paris, looking stylish in tiny, colorful and classy LV bags. All the pretty fuss is a creative way of advertising campaign for next Spring-Summer 2013 collection. Showing once again that LV is always on top with the new models Monceau BB, BB Alma and Pochette in striking colors like raspberry, red or orange. I don’t know about you, but I feel like flying to Paris, getting one of these tiny bags and enjoy the city of love. 

Watch the video below and enjoy

48-Hour Make-you-feel-good-DETOX

Are you ready to revitalize yourself from the inside out? You may ask yourself: “do I need detox?” The answer is a simple “YES”. Because, detoxing is absolutely necessary for your best health – balanced energy, glowing skin, healthy sex drive, good sleep, weight loss and so much more. Besides, detoxifying the body means getting rid of all the unhealthy toxins that will keep your systems running smoothly, make you feel younger and boost your energy. Thus, detoxing is a great way to affirm a new way of being, a fresh start to a new YOU.

I have tried this 48 – hour detox and it is pretty simple and effective. And boy oh boy … do I feel renewed, energized, alive and happy, despite the fact that it is dark and cold outside. So, I want you to try this and regain your energy too. However, it is important to follow the plan for two days in a row, in order to achieve the best results.  

Breakfast: Quinoa with chopped prunes


Start your morning off with a bowl of quinoa; this healthy whole grain is also a complete protein, and it’s high in fiber. Top it with prunes; they’re high in fiber and full of essential minerals and antioxidants. Prunes are mainly beneficial to the skin both in terms of preventing aging and general healthiness.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed

1 cup water

1 pinch nutmeg

1 tsp. grated ginger

1 tbsp. flax seed oil

1/3 cup chopped prunes

1/4 cup rice milk

Directions:

In a small pot, stir 1/2 cup quinoa, a pinch of nutmeg and 1 tsp. of grated ginger into a cup of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the prunes and rice milk. Cover again and cook another 5 minutes. Before serving, stir in 1 tbsp. of seed oil.

Snack: Detox Drinks

Enjoy these healthy pick-me-ups-and-make-me-feel-good in between meals throughout the day.

Kale, Pineapple and Ginger Detox Drink

This purifying drink contains kale to cleanse the kidneys; pineapple, which is an excellent source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants; and ginger to help stimulate bile flow in your gall bladder.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pineapple

2 large cucumbers

1 bunch kale without stems (4 cups chopped)

1/2 lemon, squeezed

1/4 inch of ginger

1 bunch of mint (1/2 cup)

Directions

Combine all ingredients and blend in juicer.

Alternative: pineapple, lemon and pomegranate blend-free detox drink

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings; drink throughout the day)

3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1 lemon

1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice

3 cups water

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix in a cup.

You can consume as many of these snacks as you'd like throughout the day.

Alternate: Veggie snack

Slice and mix together celery, radishes and cucumber, or any mixture of fresh vegetables. Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Put this crunchy cleansing treat in plastic bags or a portable container so you can take it with you on the run. You can have as much of this snack as you want throughout the day.

Lunch: Fruit Smoothie


In a blender, whip up a nourishing smoothie that contains blueberries rich in Vitamin K and Vitamin C and are also high in fiber, bananas, full of Vitamin B6, an essential vitamin for liver detoxification; and ground flaxseed, packed with brain-nourishing omega-3s and fiber for healthy elimination.

Ingredients


½ cup almond or hemp milk (plain/unsweetened)


1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia


¼ cup frozen blueberries


¼ banana


½ cup ice



Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.   

Dinner: vegetable soup 


This purifying soup contains fennel to help bile flow in your gallbladder; garlic to help with liver and gall bladder function; cabbage, excellent for detoxification in both the liver and kidneys; and shitake mushrooms to boost liver enzymes. Serve soup with a side of sauerkraut and sliced apples. Sauerkraut contains probiotics, the good bacteria that protect your GI tract. Make sure to use traditionally fermented sauerkraut to get the greatest health benefits. Apples boost both kidney and liver function.

Ingredients

2 red onions, roughly chopped

2 stalks celery, roughly chopped

1 fennel bulb, fronds and stalks included, roughly chopped

2 tsp. caraway seeds

2 tsp. sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

1 cup sliced shitake caps

4 large cloves garlic, chopped

1 cabbage, roughly chopped

2 quarts water

2 tbsp. paprika

2 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped

8 sprigs parsley, chopped stems and leaves

1/2 cup parsley, chopped

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, except for the chopped parsley, in a pot. Add 2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer covered for about 1 hour. Adjust seasoning. Remove whole parsley sprigs and serve topped with some freshly chopped parsley. Serve with a side of sauerkraut and chopped apples.

Voilá! Enjoy and feel good!