Springtime lethargy is not an illness warns a nutrition expert
Bratislava, 15 May 2019: Fatigue, a lack of energy, and mental or physical exhaustion are all symptoms of springtime lethargy. Katarína Babinská, a physiologist from Comenius University, says that in springtime it is important to make up for missing vitamins and physical activity.
Spring fatigue is not a disease, but it can make life uncomfortable. Up to seventy percent of people may meet with its unpleasant symptoms. How can we fight it? First of all, we should eat properly and have a diet of varied and nutritional food rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytochemicals. Fruits and vegetables in various forms should be a part of every daily meal, with “ordinary” examples such as apples, carrots, and kohlrabi being important. In a healthy diet there should also be wholegrain cereal products, vegetable oils, nuts, greens, legumes, and dairy products.
“It is really important to keep adequately hydrated; a lack of fluids will only worsen springtime lethargy. The human body loses about 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid every day which needs to be replaced. The ideal hydration is water or table mineral water. Fruit and herbal teas can enliven with their stimulating effects; fruit and vegetable smoothies contain vitamins and minerals,” says Katarína Babinská.
Another no less important and effective means of fighting spring fatigue is movement. We do not need to intensively exercise; it is more important to move regularly, preferably every day and in the fresh air, but we should also get enough sleep and rest. An effective activity is bathing in cold water or going to a sauna; it is also very pleasant and effective to relax with yoga.
The causes of springtime lethargy are not yet known. "The changing length of the day plays a role, as does the interaction of frequent weather fluctuations, which are typical of spring. However, diet is also a reasons behind it. In winter we eat richer dishes but fewer fresh fruit and vegetables. In bad winter weather there is less movement and time spent in the fresh air. Winter is also a time when we are more often attacked by illnesses. The weakened body then has more difficulty coping with the changes in the weather,” said Babinská, who works at the Faculty of Medicine.
If we want to effectively combat springtime lethargy, a healthy lifestyle should be maintained through the whole year and not just in springtime.