10th January, 2011

Christmas is over, we have rang in the New Year and now we are all back to the normal daily routine of our lives. Along with the doom and gloom of returning to normal most of us begin to feel the pinch of the over indulgent Christmas weeks on our bodies. Perhaps the waste line is slightly bigger, your digestion is suffering, and your skin is lacking its natural glow. As a result a general lack of enthusiasm for life seems to hang in the air. Its time to knock those January blues on the head and embrace the New Year ahead.

A complex of B vitamins, safeguards the intakes of these essential energy supporting nutrients. These are ideal for the management of stress, fatigue and tiredness as they promote effective energy metabolism allowing you to welcome the New Year with open arms.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to help restore that positive outlook on life. Essential fatty acids are necessary for the structure of membranes in the body particularly in the brain where a deficit can result in cognitive decline and depression. Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are best sourced from oily fish.
 

Tyrosine is the building block for several neurotransmitters in the brain including epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. Neurotransmitters allow for the transfer of messages in the brain, hence tyrosine may help to maintain mental focus and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression a common feeling for some regarding the year ahead.

Similar to tyrosine, phenylalanine enhances the production of neurotransmitters and is used in the synthesis of phenylethylamine, a neuro-modulator responsible for elevating mood. The world will no longer seem so dull.

In addition to supplements, it may be time to tackle your diet. A reduction in consumption of refined foods and an increased intake of nutritious high fibre foods will help prevent blood sugar peaks and allow more sustained energy levels. Exercise is associated with an improved mood and sense of well being; this is related to the fact that exercise stimulates the release of "feel good” endorphins within approximately 30 minutes from the start of the activity. Hence diet in conjunction with exercise will assist you in putting one step forward welcome the coming year.