SUNSHINE

Today I'm thankful for sunshine! I live in a very sunny part of the US. We have an average of 278 days of sunshine a year, with an average temperature of 70 degrees in spring and fall, 90 degrees average in summer and 50 degrees average in winter. About 6 months before we moved here, I was driving around in the city where we lived and it was incredibly hot and humid. I thought,"Can't we live somewhere where the weather is better than here?" Six months later we moved here where I think we have absolutely perfect weather.


I remember when we lived in Ireland we didn't get to see the sun that often. May and June there are the
sunniest months with an average of 5-6 hours a day of sunshine. December is the dullest month, with only 1 hour a day of sunshine. So I missed my sunshine!

I looked up the benefits of sunshine on the web. Here they are:
- Vitamin D from the sun with works with calcium to strengthen bones
- Helps us sleep better by resetting our internal clocks
- Gives us healthier skin and helps clear acne, eczema and psoriasis
- Some people can get Seasonal Affective Disorder from living in places that don't have much sunshine
- Stimulates appetite and helps with digestion
- Inhances immune system
- Encourages healthy circulation and stimulates the production of red blood cells
- Sunshine is a healing agent
- Helps balance hormones (! Who knew?)
- Improves function of liver
- Can lower arthritic pain levels
- Treatment for jaundice
-Can help lower blood cholesterol levels
-Can kill viruses, bacteria and mold on skin
-Regular amounts can help build up against UV exposure

There you go!  Get out in the sun!  :0)