Hypobros, what do you do to cope with those dreary european winters?
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Not European but I live in a cold climate and during the winter I recreate summer so lots of fruit, saturated fat from coconut sources, some seafood for thyroid supporting trace minerals like selenium (even better—salty, gelatinous broth made from fish heads with intact thyroid glands), incandescent lighting for vitamin D production, epsom salt baths, sweetgrass hydrolysate sprayed on my pillow before bed for scent therapy (reminds me of summer—smells like freshly cut grass) and in the past, I used to increase my thyroid dose starting in the fall, but I haven’t had to since tweaking my macros (less protein, more saturated fat).
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Here is some useful info from “How to increase body temperature”
http://mirzoune-ciboulette.forumactif.org/t1622-comment-augmenter-la-temperature-corporelle#19640
Highlights:
We assume a sub-vital body but with a functioning thyroid.- A meal with protein, which does not overload the digestive system, is thermogenic. I see the difference when I eat some protein at breakfast (ham, duck or 1 slice Gouda).
=> with an adequate intake of carbohydrates and a little fat. No protein alone. - Bone broth, via glycine.
- Not too many fatty acids, but rather olive oil and/or SFAs < 12 carbons.
- Except in special cases, PUFAs depress the system (thyroid).
- Eat salty foods and ensure adequate potassium intake throughout the day. If your Mg intake is insufficient, control of the Na-K ATPase enzyme (Na/K pump) will be impaired.
- Add salt to your coffee and moderate caffeine. Coffee not more than every 4-5 hours. Useful for me at midday.
- Choose warming spices (ginger, pepper, turmeric).
- Move around and avoid sitting for too long. Get up every 30 minutes and stretch for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce stress, get some fresh air, and practice a relaxation technique.
- Make your liver easier to work with by placing a hot water bottle on it.
- Become a fan of infrared relaxation, but not every day (I do it 3 times a week for 5’, 50 W/cm² at 30 cm distance (one foot).
- Etc.
Useful link if required info on infra-red light (in French, translator needed).
Cure de jouvence pour les mitochondries (Mitochondrial Rejuvenation Cure)
https://mirzoune-ciboulette.forumactif.org/t2135-cure-de-jouvence-pour-les-mitochondries-avec-la-luminotherapie#30366
Impact of light therapy on homeostasis: Effects on the brain – certain hormones – cells – immunity.
Excerpt: The dark side of stress – Ray PEAT.
NB: Not too long when stimulating NO production. Double-edge sword. Required but at a moderate level. The activation of nitric oxide synthesis by acetylcholine tends to block energy production, and to activate autolytic or catabolic processes. Counteraction with Co breathe in a bag or with aspirin 350 mg. - A meal with protein, which does not overload the digestive system, is thermogenic. I see the difference when I eat some protein at breakfast (ham, duck or 1 slice Gouda).
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winter rarely ever effected me badly before becoming woke on “health”, in fact i kind of enjoy the early dark and smell of the air. yes it tends to require more attention to some areas like light exposure but overall it doesnt matter
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Wearing a wool is helpful for reducing the stress of winter.
Peatbot.com: Yes, wearing a wool hat can be helpful in keeping the head warm, which may slow the aging process by reducing the stress of energy loss. The head is a significant source of heat loss due to its high metabolic rate, and wearing a wool hat can help retain more of your body's heat. This is particularly beneficial in cold environments or during sleep, as it can help maintain a stable brain temperature, which is important for restful sleep.
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Right now I seem to get the biggest boost from fresh fruit. Juice is enough in summer but winter is different.
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@pittybitty said in Hypobros, what do you do to cope with those dreary european winters?:
Right now I seem to get the biggest boost from fresh fruit. Juice is enough in summer but winter is different.
Yes, indeed. Less acid juice during the winter period. The body has more difficulties to neutralize acids in cold periods.
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I like autumn and winter. I also like spring and summer. All of them are different but enjoyable in their own ways. I live in Finland, btw.
I don't really try to do anything different during winter, but it seems like I naturally gravitate to different foods depending on the weather. Of course, I also wear warmer clothes during colder temperatures. I'll consider taking D3, but not sure yet.
I don't remember when was the last time I played in the snow. I feel like it could be fun to try that again. Maybe I could build a snowman or make snow angels.
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@pittybitty - I am not sensitive to the darkness of winter. But I recognized that darkness is a real physical stress on the body and so I try to minimize its impact on me.
Here is a quote from Ray Peat that has changed my thinking about dark winters. It may not ring true for you.
Frequent short exposures to bright light is almost as valuable as continuous sunlight, and it is less likely to cause skin aging.
Q: How much sunlight do we need a day for general health?
If artificial light is bright enough, it is as effective as sunlight at stopping the stress reaction, but people seldom use lights that are bright enough. Generally, people and animals are healthier when days are longer than 12 hours, that is, after March
21 and before September 20. When days are shorter than 12 hours, artificial lights should be used from sunset until bedtime, but the
greatest brightness probably doesnʼt have to be continuous. Studies on isolated organs and tissues suggest that a few seconds of penetrating bright light are enough to break the free radical chain reactions, slowing the production of toxic substances, which tend to increase in concentration during nocturnal stress. A few secondsʼ exposure to the direct light of ten 150 Watt incandescent bulbs, for just a few minutes every two or three hours, might provide more effective protection than continuous exposure to a single 100 Watt light.
SourceI use two 250 watt incandescent bulbs to brighten my days. Currently at my latitude, I am experiencing about 10 hours of sunlight each day. I use my lights to keep my time in darkness/dimness to less than about 12 hours. I use them in the morning to avoid any sleep issues.
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@otto
up your thyroid. stews, gelatin, yogurt, dairy. get sleep. wine, coffee, etc. -
@Corngold - thanks for the list. I do many of these things but not all of them.
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@otto
I think the transition itself is difficult. my latitude is not extreme so this part is easier. -
@Corngold - I recently returned from a trip to Tucson and I was struck by the shorter days when I returned home. Location/latitude makes a huge difference in the length of the days.
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Some tips on wearing socks to bed.
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