4 Ways Cold Makes You Feel Better and Look Better

Yep, it’s rainy and cold outside. Fall has officially arrived here in DFW. You probably woke up this morning and saw that the “High” was 46 degrees and thought to yourself “Unacceptable, I must hibernate.” I don’t blame you. But before you go into hibernation and start storing acorns for winter, there are a few things you might like to know. Cold weather has a TON of health benefits, here are just a few cold exposure benefits:

1. THE COLD WILL HELP YOU BURN MORE CALORIES

According to the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism scientists in the Netherlands argue that when exercise is limited “regular exposure to mild cold may provide a healthy and sustainable alternative strategy for increasing energy expenditure.” If your usual jog around the neighborhood isn’t an option, spend a few minutes on your patio reading. You’ll burn some extra calories and feel great.

2. IT INCREASES BROWN FAT

I know what you’re thinking, “Why would I want more fat?” Great question, thanks for asking. Brown fat is like normal fat except it’s got a ton of mitochondria packed into it; which means that brown fat helps you to produce energy. Meaning, your metabolism increases. Pretty cool fat, don’t you think? (Pun intended)

3. IT CAN HELP BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Usually, your immune system gets activated when it’s exposed to infection. According to the Department of Comparative Physiology, consistent exposure to cold over a six week period was able to activate your immune system potentially making you more resilient to infection.

4. IT WILL MAKE YOUR SKIN BETTER

Cold acts like an astringent, it closes your pores and slows the production of sebum (the waxy oil produced in the sebaceous glands). As a result, your pores are less likely to look oily or break out. So take a walk around the block in the cold or take your indoor workout outside. Your skin will thank you for it!

As you can see, there are many benefits to the cold, and I’ve only named a few. So the next time you look at the forecast and see it’s going to be cold out, rejoice! Make sure you do your rejoicing internally, so people don’t think you’re a weirdo but still… celebrate! It’s a rare Texas opportunity.

As with anything, please speak with your doctor before you try cold exposure of any kind, especially if you have any heart condition.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8925815