Spring is in the air! March 20 is the official first day of spring this year. Days are longer, flowers are in bloom and the weather is getting warmer. And if that wasn’t reason enough to have a smile on your face and an extra spring in your step, the surprising health benefits of the season certainly are.
The delightful changes the spring season brings are actually good for us too! If you needed more reasons to love spring, here they are:
1. More Vitamin D
You may lose an hour of sleep springing forward to Daylight Saving Time, but you’ll reap the benefits of more sunlight. More sunshine means more natural vitamin D, which is important for optimal health. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining strong and healthy bones, and the return of spring can help your body more easily soak up the nutrients it needs, which are often hard to come by during the dreary days of winter.
2. Time Outside
Warmer weather and more daylight makes spring an ideal time to be outside and incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine. Outdoor exercise is thought to improve mental and physical well-being more than an indoor workout. The longer days and moderate temperatures means more time outside for biking, recreational sports and after-dinner walks.
3. A Healthier Home
It’s time to turn down the thermostat and open the windows. Let the fresh air flow through your space while you tackle your spring cleaning. A cleaner, more organized home increases productivity and reduces stress, along with banishing illness-causing germs. Not to mention, all that cleaning can burn some serious calories, improving physical health.
4. Better Diet
Spring weather and wardrobes will have you saying goodbye to heavy winter comfort foods and holiday sweets, and hello to fresh spring produce. Seasonal fruits and vegetables full of vitamins and nutrients, and the return of local farmer’s markets will set your diet on a lighter, healthier course.
5. Spring Break
A spring break getaway or relaxing staycation after a long, busy winter is good for your health. Time spent relaxing reduces the risk of disease and helps to manage unhealthy stress.
Spring has sprung, and so has good health!