spring fever

What helps to alleviate spring fatigue? #2

6. April 2017 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Ideally, not only the nature awakens at the onset of spring. We human beings, too, should feel lightness, good mood and an increased urge for movement. Unfortunately, in the months from March ‘til May many of us suffer under spring fever. They feel listless and tired. But, that can change! There are some simple tricks that help to alleviate spring fever.

Hints for alleviating spring fatigue

Besides a balanced nutrition, fresh air and movement, colors, too, might play a significant role in alleviating spring fever.

Diet rich in vitamins and sufficient water: Avoid too much sweets, ready meals and a rich diet. Better strive for freshly prepared and light meals. Thus, your body will be less burdened and you will feel less tired. Use seasonal (and regional) vegetables and fruits, whole-meal cereal products, potatoes, rice, nuts and pulses. These foods will supply you with all vitamins, minerals and trace elements needed.
Too few hydration is a further reason for symptoms of tiredness. Try to drink sufficiently during the day; ideally from 1.5 to two liters. Suitable are pure water, light herbal teas or diluted fruit- or vegetable-juices.
Moderate sports and movement in fresh air: Moderate sport and exercise support your fitness and endurance. Furthermore, it strengthens your immune system. Spend as much time as possible in fresh air. Do expanded walks or a short bicycle tour. The sunrays and the natural daylight stimulate production of the happy hormone serotonin. This cares for a good mood and balance.
Warm and cold showers activate circulation: Warm and cold showers in the morning or during the day activate your circulation. Furthermore, they support your body in getting along with springtime temperature fluctuations.
Colorful attire: Bright, bold colors care for a good mood. Ban your grey winter garments in your cupboard; wear colorful outfits instead. Red, for example, activates and revives.
The proper sleep surrounding: A proper sleep surrounding as well as the proper sleeping underlay care for a healthy, regenerative sleep. After a night of restful sleeping you will wake up rested and start fresh into a new day.

In our next article we will write about how wild herbs counteract spring fatigue.

Imagesource: @istock

Spring fatigue: What does the term mean exactly? #1

5. April 2017 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Spring is here. Daisies and dandelions are visible here and there, birds chirp. With the awakening of nature most humans say good bye to hibernation, too. But, not all of us are full of energy. At the beginning of spring, some suffer under symptoms like tiredness, exhaustion, listlessness, circulatory problems, irritability, weather sensitivity and head ache; all of them signs of the so-called spring fever. But, how do these symptoms arise?

Causes for spring fatigue

The causes for spring fever have not yet been clearly scientifically established. It is assumed, that especially the change into warmer temperatures, longer sun radiation, a lack of nutrients as well as hormones are responsible for it. Due to the longer lasting days, our body receives more daylight; the production of the “happy hormone” serotonin is increased. At the same time, production of the sleeping hormone melatonin is inhibited. Besides other things, melatonin is regulating our sleep-wake-rhythm. The change of the hormones unbalances our body – spring fever arises.

Also, the temperature fluctuations get us down. Are the temperatures rising, our blood vessels expand, the blood pressure decreases. This might lead to tiredness. During the cold winter months the nutrient supply is decreased due to a decelerated metabolism. The immune system – already weakened by winter – reacts on the existing lack of energy. Tiredness and listlessness arise.

Are all humans affected the same?

In Germany, about 70 % of the population suffer under spring fever. Especially weather-sensitive people and those already suffering under a low blood pressure are more prone to symptoms of spring fever. Usually, this concerns more women than men. Also, rather elder people are affected by spring fever.

How long does spring fatigue last?

Spring fever normally occurs from March to May. During these months, the days continuously become longer plus the weather is changeable.

In the next article you will find some tips for overcoming spring fatigue.

Imagesource: @fotolia

Time shift

24. March 2017 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

It’s about to happen again in the night from Saturday to Sunday. We are changing from normal time (= winter time) into summer time. The clocks will be set from 02.00 a.m. to 3.00 a.m. Besides spring fever, time shift, too, affects the organism. The time shift might lead to concentration difficulties, tiredness and head ache. Often, elder people, infants and small children as well as employed with a strict schedule suffer under difficulties. Depending on the personal biorhythm, it will be hard to cope with the missing hour.

Getting up revived made easy

Normally, early birds, also known as “larks”, have fewer difficulties. For night persons on the other hand, getting up in the morning after the time shift becomes harder.

In case you are sensitive to the time shift, best prepare yourself in advance. With simple measures you will accustom your body. You are going to get up on Monday revived and full of power.

Hints for a good start in the new week after the time shift

Follow the advices of sleeping expert Prof. Dr. h.c., Günther W. Amann-Jennson and you will have no restrictions.

Change your rhythm of life and time for eating: already one day before the actual time shift, try to change your rhythm as well as your eating times. Get up, eat and go to bed half an hour earlier. On Sunday, do everything one hour earlier than you normally do.
Walks in fresh air, vitamin-rich diet: an expanded walk in fresh air supports the change of your inner clock. Also, a vitamin-rich diet is helpful during the time of change. Try to avoid caffeine-containing beverages at least three hours before going to bed.
Herbal teas and relaxation: if sleep just won’t come, take advantage of herbs facilitating falling asleep. Hops, valerian and balm, for example. In addition to that, try some relaxation exercises.
Good sleeping underlay and comfortable bedding climate: care for a good sleeping underlay, a proper pillow as well as a comfortable bedding climate. These things, too, will make adaption to summer time easier and support healthy sleep.

Seek medical advice if you suffer under time shift problems for a longer period of time.

Imagesource: @fotolia

Tips on how to counteract spring fatigue

10. May 2016 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Few exercise, frequent colds and temporarily unbalanced diet strained our body during winter. The change from the dark season into the bright season is a further challenge and is often connected with increased tiredness. Almost every second person suffers under the transition period. Studies show that especially young people and women are mostly concerned by it.

Due to the less present sunlight in winter, fewer of the happy-hormone serotonin but more of the sleep hormone melatonin got produced. Now, the days became longer again. On the one hand this is extremely healthy for our well-being as well as for the creation of vitamin D and serotonin on the other hand the light is inhibiting melatonin production. But not only the hormonal balance is influenced by the change: due to the increasing temperatures our blood vessels widen and the blood pressure sinks. Until the arising imbalance is fairly evened out, tiredness and listlessness are often noticeable.

Following hints support you in getting spring fatigue over and done!

walks and movement in fresh air – best, before lunch time – and deliberately chosen dark surrounding in the evening quickly balance out your serotonin- and melatonin-level
Contrast showers or cures according to Kneipp make less susceptible to frequent temperature fluctuations in spring
a power nap at lunch time
adiet rich in vitamins with seasonal delicacies from the garden store vitamins
especially take care for the proper sleep surrounding as well as the proper sleeping underlay. When you have a high-quality-sleep disturbing tiredness soon will be a thing of the past

Hints for spring fatigue

4. April 2016 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

The spring has arrived! Normally we ought to feel an urge to move as well as happiness. But, many are feeling tired and listless. They are suffering under spring fever.

Symptoms and causes
Especially women and teens as well as weather-sensitives are concerned by spring fatigue. Dizziness, circulatory problems and weather-sensitivity are some manifestations.

The causes for spring fatigue are not scientifically proven, yet. According to doctors, a lack of movement, an unbalanced diet and frequent colds during winter might be responsible for spring fever. Due to the often low-vitamin nutrition during winter the body is lacking important vitamins and minerals. The within short time rising temperature additionally strains the body. The blood vessels are dilated and the arising low blood pressure causes tiredness and exhaustion.

When you, too, suffer under this, try to follow the following hints:

Fresh air
Frequent aeration brings oxygen into the brain and therewith enhances performance. Combine it with breathing- and relaxation-exercises to defy tiredness.

Movement
Do long walks, Nordic Walking or drive bicycle. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Movement is not only good for your fitness but also strengthens your immune system.

Warm and cold showers
Warm and cold showers get your circulation going.

Balanced nutrition
Try to eat several meals a day. Care for a balanced nutrition with sufficient fruits and vegetables. They not only contain vitamins but also fibers and have few calories. Experts advise to eat grain and esp. whole-grain, potatoes and legumes.

Drinking
One reason for tiredness might be a lack of fluid intake. Thus, it is important to drink about two liters per day. Best are, water, herbal tea or diluted juice.