Anwesha

If you’ve been feeling more tired, unmotivated, emotional, or “off” in these dark months, you’re not alone. Seasonal depression (SAD) is real, and it can impact your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy levels.

Here are a few gentle ways to support your mental health this season:

-Prioritize protein at breakfast. Protein helps stabilize blood sugar and can reduce mood crashes (eggs, Greek yogurt, turkey, tofu, or protein smoothies).

-Add healthy fats daily. Omega-3s and healthy fats support brain function and mood (salmon, chia/flax, walnuts, avocado, olive oil).

-Choose slow carbs over sugar spikes. Swap pastries + candy for fiber-rich options like sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa, lentils, and fruit.

-Boost magnesium + vitamin C. Magnesium supports calm and sleep (pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds). Vitamin C supports stress resilience (citrus, peppers, berries).

-Hydrate—even when it’s cold. Dehydration can worsen fatigue and brain fog. Aim for water + herbal tea throughout the day.

Bonus Mood Supports:
-Step outside for daylight (even 10 minutes helps!)
-Move your body in a way that feels doable
-Keep a steady sleep routine
-Reach out for support—therapy can help

You don’t have to “push through” alone. Healing is allowed to be slow and supported. If you need some help along the way, reach out!

When we nourish our bodies, we also nourish our mental health. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine use co-factors like B12 and zinc for synthesis, and we use vitamin D and magnesium to help maintain hormonal balance. If you are like me and struggle with getting your required daily nutrients, consider taking a high quality, whole foods based multivitamin.

You can now purchase products like Megafood Daily Immune Support directly from Anwesha. Email [email protected] for more details. Online apothecary coming soon!

Omega-3’s are crucial for mental health as they benefit the brain in several important ways, including the modulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Sea algae is an excellent source of omega-3 fats and a cheaper, more sustainable option than fish oil. You can now purchase Nordic Naturals Omega-3 products like Algae Omega, directly from Anwesha. To place an order, email [email protected] for pricing and shipping details.

Starting a family comes with its own set of unique mental health challenges. For women especially, the journey from conception to birth to postpartum can be full of big highs and big lows. Anwesha offers a foundation of support through each of these important life stages with holistic nutrition counseling, targeted medicinal herb protocols and flower essence therapy. Contact [email protected] for more information.

If you live in Colorado, I encourage you to visit the Mother’s Center. This amazing non-profit is located in the beautiful mountains above Boulder and they specialize in supportive, small group events for pregnant mamas. Learn more here - https://www.themotherscenter.org/

Hypericum perforatum [St. Johns Wort] is a powerful ally for mental health. It has been shown in clinical trials to behave similarly to pharmaceutical grade SSRI inhibitors like Prozac for mild-moderate depression. [https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/st-johns-wort]

The active constituents in St. Johns include Phloroglucinols (Hyperforin), Polycyclic Diones (Hypericin), Flavonoids, Proanthycyanidins, Naphthodianthrones, Phloroglucinol and Xanthone Derivatives.

This beautiful, yellow budding perennial can grow up to six feet tall with a spread of three to six feet wide. It is native to the eastern U.S. and Texas and grows in acidic soils, mostly in moist and wet conditions, including streams, ponds, lake banks, seepage slopes, and wet meadows.

In addition to benefiting mental health, St. Johns is also good for inflammations of the stomach including gastritis, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea and externally, hemorrhoids. It is an excellent remedy for joint and neurological pains, sciatica and toothaches. Because of its anti-viral properties, Hypericum is also good as a topical for wounds and burns.

If you would like more information about how to take Hypericum, or if you are interested in other wellness consultations, please reach out to [email protected].

Meditation is not only effective at balancing and nourishing our mental health, it is absolutely free and accessible. If you have ever been interested in a mindfulness practice but simply don’t know where to start, try some of these free resources. Current research suggests that as little as 10-20 minutes a day can have a profound effect.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. This is an issue close to my heart and it is important to me that anyone who wants help, gets it. Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part. And sometimes we just need a helping hand or an advocate who can assist us on the journey. If you or someone you know would like resources for counselors or peer support groups in your area, or if you need help navigating the Health First Colorado (Medicaid) website for low income options, https://www.healthfirstcolorado.com/apply-now/, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Slow Money is a Colorado non-profit that provides small scale loans and other forms of economic support to organic farmers dedicated to soil preservation and other forms of sustainability. Their mission is simple and it works extremely well.

This incredible organization is just one of many groups around the world working to secure our food stability now and into the future. I encourage you to celebrate Earth Day this year by donating or volunteering your time with a beautiful company like Slow Money.

Water for People is a local, Colorado based non-profit that is working in over nine countries around the world to address drinking water issues, from scarcity to cleanliness. What I love about this company is their commitment to sustainability and long-term solutions. They don’t just install infrastructure and leave. They educate the local population about how to maintain and improve the systems they build and provide the necessary tools to do so.

To date, Water for People has given 4.7 million people access to clean drinking water. They have reached over 4,000 communities, 1500 schools, 165 medical clinics and created over 3,000 permanent jobs. Want to get involved? Consider donating, volunteering, fundraising or partnering. More information can be found on their website - https://www.waterforpeople.org/get-involved/