Is anyone else dreaming of a tropical vacation right about now? I wouldn't mind sitting on a warm beach with a refreshing fruity drink in my hand…

First, a little bit of good news: We're going monthly! That's right--the response to Conversations has been so positive that we're moving from a quarterly publication to a monthly one. Look for more articles, more encouragement, more coupons (and maybe even some free stuff!) in the months ahead.

Now, let's move on to this month's subject: the pressure of New Year's Resolutions. They used to drive me crazy! Every year there we are--we're going to lose all of the weight. We're going to go to the gym for an hour every single day, even if it's really cold outside. We're going to clean out the cabinets and refrigerator and restock them with only whole grains and fat-free foods. We're going to overhaul our lives, completely.

Now that the holidays are over, we all have to deal with what winter has to offer – shorter days, cold weather, less sunlight and sometimes the confinement of being indoors. Many people experience changes in mood, feelings of exhaustion and depression this time a year – called the ‘winter blues.’ It can last for a few days or throughout the entire winter season and some people find it hard to function normally without seeking medical and psychological help to cope with severe winter depression. The technical name for this condition is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Here are a few suggestions that may help you through the winter months and ward off “the blues.”

Question:  I just started taking Chromax Chromium Picolinate and find that I am hungry all the time – is there a connection? 

Sherry Answers: Yes, when your body utilizes its insulin more effectively, you body metabolizes the food you eat more efficiently. The more efficient metabolizing of your food means

Every one of us deals with moodiness on occasion. For millions of people, these mood changes may have a seasonal component. Our energy level and outlook on life can take a turn for the worse as winter approaches, and leave us in a funk for months. If this sounds familiar, you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, especially if this seasonal moodiness is accompanied by sleep problems, headaches, irritability, withdrawal, weight gain and carbohydrate cravings.

Mood problems stem largely from a lack of energy, which is often associated with nutrient deficiencies.  And as we age, conditions such as SAD inevitably get worse, because aging depletes the nutrients in our bodies; that's why most older people may have lower levels of chromium and the nutrients important to mental health.