spring fever

I think I'm coming down with something. The last couple of days have been spring-like warm here in the Denver area. So I think I have what is commonly called, 'spring fever.' And I found out today that it's a real condition.

I heard a story on the news stating that this fever is both a mental and physical condition. That our body's chemistry changes with the seasons and for spring, it happens two to three weeks after we change our clocks. The symptoms are more energy, a better mood, and an overwhelming desire to kick back and play hooky for real life.

Longer days and more sunshine trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that not only give us a mental pick me up, but also cause a number of positive physical changes:

-> Cholesterol levels in the body are almost always lower in the spring than they are in the winter, even when diet or exercise habits haven't been changed.

-> Bones get thicker and the body gets thinner. There's a big shift in body composition come spring. People lose a little body fat, gain a little muscle and bones thicken up. That may help explain why there are fewer hip fractures in older people during the spring than during the winter.

-> People need less sleep. Not only do people require less sleep in the spring, but they have more energy despite sleeping less.

and here's something to get excited about...

-> With the exception of ice cream, most people will also find that they crave fewer carbohydrates and fats in the spring as compared to the winter. That, along with a natural speed-up in metabolism, makes losing weight a little easier in the spring. [yippee!]

Being sick with spring fever is something I don't mind... at all.

**source: Dr. Dave Hnida, Denver CBS4

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link of the day:
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/aprilfools-pranks-ms/?CMP=ILC-1BV471923792