It’s winter, and with it, comes cold and flu season. Drugstores buzz as people begin to cough and sneeze. I swear folks look out their windows, see the beautiful white powder and instantly become contagious.
We’ve all been programmed to believe the myth that winter makes us sick. Our parents and grandparents nagged us to bundle up, keep our hair dry, smother drafts and avoid prolonged exposure to the cold. Heck, I have caught myself saying similar things to my own kids. However, winter weather does not directly cause us to catch colds. Viruses cause colds and flues.
Viruses such as rhinovirus, influenza, coronavirus, parainfluenza, etc., thrive in cold temperatures when the humidity is low, as they do in extreme heat when humidity is high. Hence, why it seems like we are more prone to contracting illnesses in the winter.
Our natural instinct is to stay warm, and it is due to behavioural changes based on this need that we find ourselves more susceptible to viruses. When temperatures drop, people migrate indoors and remain in close contact, which produces a breeding ground for germs.
The solution to this problem is simple. Embrace the cold. Though it seems an unpleasant concept to the masses, those of us who live in polar climates need to stop hiding from winter. We need to open the windows now and then and let the cold, crisp air clean out our dry, dust-filled environments. Bundle up and get outside.
There is no better natural aid than fresh air, even if it is cold. I can personally vouch for this fact. Even when suffering from a cold, I feel better when I am outside breathing in the winter air.
I once rented a semi-detached student apartment, which was heated by an outdoor wood furnace. During the winter months, the place was cold … extremely cold … but I was the healthiest I have ever been. It was the first winter I did not contract a cold. But don’t take my word for it, listen to the experts.
Over the years, researchers have compiled mountains of scientific evidence on the benefits of fresh air and cold. Both have been used in the medical profession for centuries, with a good example being the sanatoriums of the late 19th and early 20th century used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Yet, people remain biased.
10 ways winter helps us
For those of you who need a little more reassurance, here are 10 ways winter helps us, instead of harming us.
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- It helps us sleep. When we’re not in motion, our body temperature naturally drops, and we go into rest mode. By lowering the temperature of our bedrooms, we fall asleep faster and sleep longer. Moreover, a well-rested body helps boost the immune system.
- It supports respiratory health and alleviates allergies. This is true in both humans and animals. Despite the increase in exposure to indoor dust and moulds during the winter, outdoor allergens are practically nonexistent.
- It activates our immune response. Yes, winter’s low level o humidity can have ill effects on our immune systems. However, acute exposure to cold air causes our body’s defense system to kick into overdrive and react faster.
- It makes us smarter. Most people know sugar (glucose) fuels our body, especially our brain function. In hotter temperatures, our bodies use more sugar to help us cool down, which leaves less for thinking. As such, when we are cold, we have more cognitive glucose.
- It’s a natural cardio workout. As we’ve all heard, we are healthier when we get our hearts pumping. In order to keep us warm during the winter, our hearts have to work overtime to pump enough oxygenated blood through our bodies. Don your snowsuit and take a walk in the cold to help improve your heart’s health.
- It reduces inflammation. For those of you who suffer from joint pain, you’ve probably noticed how you are less uncomfortable during the winter. Doctors commonly tell patients suffering from inflammation to ice the affected area. Winter provides you with a natural cooling solution, which helps alleviate the problem.
- It burns calories. When we are cold, our hearts work harder to keep us warm. As a result, we metabolize more fat to produce the glucose that helps our bodies function. If you still have those extra Christmas pounds weighing you down, get outside and go for a walk in the winter wonderland.
- It lowers the risk of disease. OK, so we are more prone to getting colds and flu during the winter, due to increased germ exposure. But cold weather actually prevents the contraction of other diseases—diseases that cannot survive in cold temperatures, as well as insect-transmitted diseases, as insect populations are depleted in the cold months.
- It fights diabetes. Since winter stimulates our bodies to burn more calories, and especially brown fat, it helps absorb glucose levels in the blood. As a result, it improves insulin sensitivity.
- It extends our life. We all want to live longer, and some say winter can help us do this. The refrigerator effect has been proven to slow the aging process, but also, with the absence of insects in cold climates, the risk of contracting diseases and viruses is lower.
- It helps us sleep. When we’re not in motion, our body temperature naturally drops, and we go into rest mode. By lowering the temperature of our bedrooms, we fall asleep faster and sleep longer. Moreover, a well-rested body helps boost the immune system.
These are all facts many of us probably never heard about until now. I know I hadn’t. I now see, through my own personal experiences of being out in the cold, the truth in the above-mentioned health benefits. Winter is not the foe we’ve all been told it is. It can improve our health if we let it. It is a no-brainer that fresh air is good for us, but next time you are shut up in your house, remember that even cold winter air is our body’s friend.
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