The winter months have always been a struggle for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fresh crisp mornings and wrapping up for a morning walk but the change in seasons has always affected me mentally. I find myself wanting to hibernate, eat loads of unhealthy food and my mood dips quite drastically. I found out during my pregnancy last winter that my Vitamin d levels were low which could’ve been contributing to my low energy levels and mood and was advised to supplement with a higher dose and add more Vitamin d rich foods to my diet.
This year I wanted to prepare my body in advance for the winter months, especially since my mood has been quite up and down postpartum. I have been taking Neubria Shine Mood which is a natural mood-support supplement designed to help you feel at your best each day. I was told by my GP that I might have SAD (seasonal affective disorder which is a type of depression generally seen when the seasons change and most commonly in the winter months. I didn’t want to go down the prescription medication route so Shine Mood has been a good natural alternative for me.
It contains ingredients such as Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Rhodiola Rosea and Saffron Extract as well as a range of vitamins and minerals to support your emotional well-being and energy levels. I started taking these in October as I find it usually takes around 8 weeks for me to notice the benefits of new supplements, however I started noticing the benefits from around week 4 and I have continued to purchase these since. I feel as though my anxiety levels have dropped and I have been sleeping much better. My deep sleep was averaging at around 15-20 minutes since giving birth and is now 60+ minutes. More importantly I am finding it easier to fall asleep and I am feeling motivated in the mornings to do long walks. There has definitely been a positive shift in my mindset and overall mood in the mornings, even with balancing some personal stresses. This is a supplement that I will continue taking, alongside meditation, staying hydrated and giving myself time to rest.