When the cold winds of winter creep in, it not only brings a biting coldness but also seem to quietly in your mind a layer of light haze. If you find yourself stepping into this season, the mood is like a winter haze shrouded, for no reason down, then, you may have suffered from “winter depression”. But don't worry, the winter blues are not invincible. In this battle against the winter blues, you have a hidden “superhero card” - your diet! That's right, antioxidant-rich superfoods are your secret weapon to help you win the battle for your mood.

During this seemingly hopeless season, you can build a solid defence for your mind by adjusting your diet. Reduced sunlight hours and plummeting temperatures act as catalysts for SAD, causing people's vitamin D levels to slip quietly. This is when a nutritious diet becomes not only the cornerstone of maintaining good health but also a sturdy shield against the onslaught of SAD. Imagine incorporating those colourful and nutritious superfoods into your daily diet, they are like a brave squad, waging a silent battle inside your body to dispel the winter gloom and restore your bright mood.

When SAD, the imp of winter blues, tries to sow gloom in your heart, there is a class of colourful, small and delicate superheroes quietly assembling in your refrigerator, ready to stage a magnificent adventure against the blues - they are berries! These jewels of nature, like little elves in purple, red and blue capes, are not only attractive but also effective weapons against SAD. The presence of berries, the heroes of antioxidants, at your breakfast table, is like a magic key to unlocking a better day, instantly crossing your mood from a gloomy winter day to a sunny spring day. Higher fruit intake is associated with lower levels of depression, and berries are undoubtedly the stress-reducing superstars in this fruit war. Rich in antioxidants, they act as the embodiment of justice, valiantly battling oxidative stress in the body - a physiological imp caused by the accumulation of oxygen-reactive substances. And, even in winter, when nature's orchards are temporarily dormant, you needn't worry that these berry heroes will be absent. Frozen berries retain all their nutrients and flavours and are ready to add a splash of colour to your table. Whether you blend them into warm porridge, dance with crunchy muesli or turn them into a cold, exciting smoothie or milkshake, berries put the anti-stress benefits of antioxidants to good use in a delightful way.

Excessive amounts of active products, once out of control, can leave the detoxification system, the hard-working cleaner, in disarray, or even a small “management loophole”. This is not a simple loophole; it can be the trigger for a series of health crises. Studies have shown that when oxidative stress is an unwelcome visitor, it not only disrupts intracellular calm, but also triggers a series of serious health problems, such as cancer as a cunning sleeper, diabetes as a sweet nuisance, metabolic disorders as a mess maker, and atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease as invisible killers of heart health. When you skillfully include these antioxidant-rich foods in your diet, it's like recruiting a valiant army for the body kingdom. They prevent a state of oxidative stress and prepare you well for every aspect of your health!

So the next time you feel the shadow of SAD creeping up on you, open the fridge and let these little berry heroes leap onto your plate, and let them chase away the winter blues with a delicious battle that will bring brightness and vitality all day long!

（Writer：Lily）