Northern Spring, Southern Autumn and Dietary Changes

by Phil Marks

When the clocks go forward tonight that's always a good sign (in the northern hemisphere). With daylight appearing at 5.30 am the increased sunlight levels are helping we SAD sufferers. However, if you live in the southern hemisphere then your clocks will be going back, and the onset of SAD symptoms will soon be starting.

It's been a tough winter up here, the coldest for 30 years in W Europe and the US East Coast has had a bad time too.

I did make a significant change to my diet in the New Year. For many years I have rarely eaten eggs, except for the very occasional omelette or scrambled on toast - that means maybe once a month.  Of course, there are eggs in pasta, cakes and so on. The reason I minimised them was because I had read that they were heavy on cholesterol. Now, my 'bad' cholesterol level hasn't been too bad at about 5.7-5.9 for the last few years, but my SAD has been intense.

So, besides upping my exercise levels and taking St John's Wort, I have started to eat an egg every second day - usually poached.

Now I do look forward to my egg, and I do believe it has made a difference. Also, I've been adding some pate' to my regular foods - the liver content is beneficial, though liver is also high in cholesterol. My pate intake is about 1 small block every two or three weeks, so not excessive.

There are three main kinds of cholesterol:

• LDL - low-density lipoprotein – so-called ‘bad cholesterol’ - this carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells and, if supply exceeds demand, harmful build-up of cholesterol may result.
• HDL - high-density lipoprotein – so-called ‘good cholesterol’ - this transports cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver to be broken down or excreted
• Triglycerides

So why is cholesterol important? It forms part of the membrane that surrounds every cell, and helps to insulate nerve fibres (allowing nerve signals to travel more efficiently); also to help synthesise hormones, which carry chemical signals around the body.

So, without cholesterol, our bodies wouldn't work well, if at all. Too much cholesterol in the blood, however, increases the risk of coronary heart disease and disease of the arteries.
Opinion as to what ‘healthy’ levels of cholesterol are is the subject of much discussion, but the general consensus is that the relative balance of the three types is what is important. It is not considered healthy when someone has high levels of LDL cholesterol and trigylcerides, and low levels of HDL cholesterol.

Of course, spring is coming (for us northerners) and that always helps, but I do believe the eggs and pate have made a difference to me. If you live in the southern hemisphere and susceptible to SAD, then it is worth considering your dietary balance

I will be going for my annual blood check soon, and would recommend that if you are considering adjusting your diet, that you discuss it with your physician first.

Copyright (c) 2010 Phil Marks