Seasonal Affective Disorder Analysis Essay Example

(SAD) experience a delayed decrease in melatonin, which can be prevented by exposure to sunlight. This exposure results in reduced depression and cravings for carbohydrates among SAD patients. The exact role of melatonin as a direct cause of SAD is unclear, and the precise cause of depression related to SAD remains unknown.

People with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) have a strong craving for foods rich in carbohydrates due to serotonin, which regulates their desire for carbs. In 1986, Scientific American conducted a study that discovered SAD patients who received d-fenfluramine, an artificial form of serotonin, experienced reduced stress-induced eating. Serotonin produces trypto, a hormone present in the bloodstream. Once it enters the central nervous system and reaches specific cells called raphe nucli, it converts into serotonin. The consumption of carbohydrates increases trypto levels in the blood, potentially explaining why individuals with SAD consume more carbs.

According to testing results, individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) who ate a high-carbohydrate meal consisting of six cookies and containing 800 calories reported feeling energetic and vigorous (Health 1989). SAD patients typically consume more carbohydrates during the fall season and less during summer. Additionally, those who have cravings for carbohydrates usually satisfy them in the late afternoon or early evening. On average, people who crave carbohydrates consume around 1,940 calories per meal. The typical calorie intake for adult females is between 1,500 and 2,000 calories, while for adult males it ranges from 2,200 to 2,700 calories. Carbohydrate cravers tend to consume an additional 800 or more calories per day in the early evening (Wurtman 1989).

Increasing carbohydrate intake can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

(SAD) by boosting serotonin levels. SAD is primarily caused by a lack of daylight, although little research has been conducted on the impact of temperature and barometric pressure on mental health. These factors vary throughout the year. Abraham Lincoln experienced two severe episodes of depression during periods of significant barometric pressure changes (Davis 1994). This suggests that besides daylight, other seasonal changes may also contribute to SAD symptoms. Currently, light therapy is considered the most effective treatment for SAD, despite its exact cause being unknown. However, we do know that light therapy effectively relieves symptoms.

In our daily routines, many individuals who work indoors commonly experience a lack of daylight exposure. This results in limited access to natural light. A study conducted in San Diego found that males spend an average of seventy-five minutes per day in the sun, while females only spend twenty minutes on average. It is important for the human body to have increased light exposure to regulate the secretion of serotonin and melatonin. More research is needed on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and its causes; however, there is a solution available.

Expensive artificial sun lamps are the most effective way to help suppress SAD. These lamps often use bulbs that cost over one-hundred dollars. However, carbohydrates can also be used as an alternate way to suppress the symptoms, although weight gain is a side effect. Studies have shown that those who crave carbohydrates tend to put on significant weight, which is typically lost in the spring. On the other hand, exposure to daylight can effectively suppress symptoms without any side effects. Therefore, the best way to regulate hormonal balance

is through regular exposure to daylight.