Winter, for many people, means sadness, solitude and tiredness. And nor is it just a superficial feeling, a sort of routine moaning by people who tend to be 'complaining types'. The proof is that in Anglo-Saxon countries winter blues is already recognized as an actual syndrome, which can, in the worst cases, develop into forms of depression.

And nor is it by chance that it strikes prevalently in northern countries: the lack of light is the main cause of this complaint and everything derived from it. Long, dark days, with the sun peeping out shyly for just a few short hours: ideal circumstances for upsetting people's psyche and peace of mind and for the onset of winter blues.

And so it's not just a slight malaise, but an actual illness with clearly defined symptoms, for which, thank goodness, there are a number of effective remedies. In Italy it's estimated to affect about 20% of the population, peaking at over 30% in some of the meteorological 'grey' zones (especially the Po Plain, famous for its thick fogs). What are the symptoms? Tiredness, tendency to sleep more, intense weariness after waking up in the morning and persistent feeling of sadness: when these symptoms get worse they are called 'seasonal affective disorder', characterized, in more serious cases, by depression. Another symptom not to be taken lightly is the nervous hunger, making us want to eat all the time and causing worrying weight increases. And this is even more worrying because in  winter it's much harder to counter weight increase as the metabolism slows down with the colder temperatures.

The main cause of all this, as we said earlier, is the lack of light. So, what can we do about it? There is a very simple remedy: lots of light and colour, even in the more difficult cases. It's true that there's not much light in northern countries, and for this reason it's a good idea to go for a walk in the middle of the day, making the best of the hours of maximum daylight. This is recommended especially for the elderly, who are often 'genetic' victims of this illness. And everybody is advised to keep their lights on at home and in the office for as long as possible, despite the electricity bills. The essential message is: avoid darkness and poor lighting at all costs!

Food is important too. Seasonal fruit and vegetables can help: lots of oranges, tangerines, apples, grapes, kiwis, carrots, tomatoes, peppers and radishes. Brightly-coloured plants are a good remedy, too: cyclamens, poinsettias and holly in abundance.

And what about clothes? Despite the diktats of the fashion world, that often wants everybody (especially women) in total black, a bright, anti-depressivelook is recommended: it seems that fashion designers too have realised this, as current winter collections are full of lively colours and daring contrasts. Make the best of it!

And as for diet, we have to concentrate on 'solar' foods that can boost the nervous system of the more sensitive amongst us. Everything depends on serotonin, the neurotransmitter that puts us in a good mood: wholemeal cereals and beans, fish (especially common types of 'blue' fish), honey and unrefined sugar, natural yeast and, as mentioned earlier, fresh (preferably organic) fruit and vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, savoy cabbage and artichokes).

And then of course there's the supreme depression remedy, chocolate. A little bar of chocolate every now and then can have a placebo effect, but be careful not to overdo it because of possible weight problems and the risk of hyperexcitement, caused by the same substance as in coffee (theobromine). 

But then, if all this isn't enough, you can always go for a more drastic but highly effective remedy: repaint your walls with bright colours to create a luminous, stimulating environment. Yellow, brilliant green, fuchsia, orange .... the choice is limitless!