The change of the seasons affects more than just the weather—it can have a significant impact on consumers’ mood, energy, and stress levels. About 5% of American adults report habitually feeling low during the fall and winter months. Women, young adults, and people who live at higher latitudes with less daylight are more susceptible.¹ 

While most people who experience the winter blues don’t qualify for a clinical diagnosis, these seasonal shifts can still affect their day-to-day quality of life. Along with lifestyle changes, nutritional approaches can support mood and ease stress during the winter months.

The Mood-Stress Link

There are multiple reasons why winter hits so hard. Shorter days mean less exposure to sunlight, which can disrupt the circadian rhythm. Cold weather, holiday pressures, and the post-holiday letdown contribute to both physical and emotional stress. In addition, the natural tendency to exercise less in the winter deprives people of the mood-lifting effects of regular physical activity. Sleep patterns can also become disrupted, compounding the issue.

Importantly, mood and stress are closely related. Repeated stress can eat away at emotional resilience, causing emotions to flatline. At the same time, feeling blue can lead to a dip in motivation, and when everyday tasks start to pile up, stress levels can climb even higher. 

Natural Ways to Lift Mood and Calm Stress in Winter

People struggling with the winter blues are looking for practical, effective support. Some good first steps include increasing exposure to light, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, getting adequate exercise, eating well, and staying hydrated. Supplements also have a role to play in supporting mental wellbeing year-round – but particularly during the dark, cold days of winter. 

Many mood-lifting and/or stress-relieving supplement ingredients fall into one of five categories:

• Stimulants. Stimulants like guarana, yerba mate, and kola nut provide a quick lift, but they can also feel like for-the-moment pep pills—not daily mood care. Many people also find caffeine gives them the jitters or wears off suddenly, leading to a crash.
• Sedative Botanicals. Herbs like valerian, kava, and hops are good for nighttime relaxation and occasional stress relief, but may not be suitable for ongoing daytime use because their sedative properties can cause drowsiness.
• Fast-Acting Agents. Ingredients such as GABA and L-theanine are frequently used to calm down quickly on stressful days, but many consumers don’t view them as long-term options for daily mood support. 
• Neurochemistry Influencers. Ingredients like 5-HTP, SAMe, tryptophan, and St. John’s wort act directly on neurotransmitter pathways and may feel too drug-adjacent for many consumers.
• Adaptogens. Botanicals such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and other plant extracts have been studied for a range of effects supporting mood and stress, but some can have bitter tastes or concerns over safe use. 

What consumers ultimately want is:

• Balanced mood support without spikes and crashes
• Daytime-friendly support that doesn’t cause drowsiness
• Steady support that is designed for consistent use throughout the winter, instead of something they reach for every now and then

EverZen™: A New Approach to Winter Mood and Stress Support

Everwell Health’s plant-based ingredient, EverZen™, offers meaningful benefits for mental wellbeing during challenging times.* Derived from young corn (Zea mays) leaves, EverZen contains 6-MBOA, a novel, naturally occurring and potent bioactive clinically shown to help support a positive mood, manage occasional anxiety, and promote a healthy stress response.* ^2,3

By marshalling the power of 6-MBOA, EverZen™ offers a novel alternative to many conventional mood and stress support approaches—lifting mood while also supporting the stress response* Highly versatile, EverZen™ is suitable for use in various dietary supplement applications, including capsules, tablets, gummies, chews, and powders.

Discover how EverZen™ can add a fresh new take on your mood or stress support formulation.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Torres F. March 2024. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.psychiatry.org:443/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder

2. Kalman DS, Feldman S, Vazquez RR, Krieger DR. Foods Basel Switz. 2015;4(2):130-139. doi:10.3390/foods4020130

3. Talbott SM, Talbott JA, Brownell L, Yimam M. J Med Food. 2023;26(1):59-67. doi:10.1089/jmf.2021.0197