The Unexpected Wellness Benefits of Cold (You'll Be Surprised)
You may prefer flip flops and beaches, but knowing these surprising health benefits may help you appreciate colder temperatures.
Healthy reasons to embrace the cold
Weight loss
Our bodies dip into the fat supply for fuel to keep warm. One study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that exposure to cold temperatures (not accompanied by shivering) can activate brown fat metabolism, so it may help burn calories. And shivering can be good, too, as it also stimulates the burning of fat. A study published in the journal Cell Metabolism found that shivering stimulates the secretion of irisin, a hormone that induces fat burning. Apparently, just 15 minutes spent shivering in a cold environment has the same effect as exercising for an hour. (Word of caution below). The flip side is that cold temperatures may increase your appetite.
Better sleep
The latest existing research suggests that the ideal temperature for the best sleep should be somewhere between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and you might burn more calories, too. Your body’s core temp naturally drops when you’re trying to sleep and the process is much faster in winter.
Allergy relief
Pollen counts are virtually nonexistent in cold and snowy weather, so if you suffer from outdoor allergies, you may get a break! Of course, there are other indoor allergens in wintertime you should consider, such as mold and dust mites, but for the most part, you’ll get a bit of a reprieve.
Brain boost
Studies show that colder temperatures help people think clearly. What’s more, other research shows that people tackle more cognitive problems in the winter than in the summer, because summer temps use more glucose that’s needed for mental processes.
Inflammation
Cold air acts like a natural ice pack to decrease inflammation, so you might get some relief from less swollen and puffy joints in winter.
Techniques like cryotherapy involve brief exposure to extremely cold temperatures (often below -200°F) in a specialized chamber. While research is ongoing, proponents suggest cryotherapy may offer several benefits. These include reducing muscle soreness and inflammation by constricting blood vessels and decreasing nerve activity, potentially aiding in faster recovery after exercise. Some also report pain relief for conditions like arthritis and improved skin conditions due to increased blood flow after the treatment.
Immune benefits
Cold weather kicks your immune system into gear and fights infections more effectively. Studies have shown that the human immune system can be activated when exposed to the cold, and this enhances someone’s ability to fight infections.
Practices like the Wim Hof Method combine specific breathing techniques, cold exposure (such as cold showers or ice baths), and mindset/meditation. Advocates suggest the Wim Hof Method can enhance the immune system by influencing the autonomic nervous system and reducing inflammation. It's also believed to improve mental focus and mood through the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals.
Mood enhancer
As your body works harder to stay warm while exercising outdoors, endorphins are released-- those feel-good hormones--and your mood is naturally lifted.
Please Note: Of course, extremely cold weather can be dangerous, and you should exercise caution. Take a look at these must-read tips for plummeting temperatures or these severe weather tips from Antartica.
Skin benefits of cold
The good news
You know that hot water can dry the skin, but did you know that cold weather increases blood circulation by constraining blood vessels in the skin? This reduces the likelihood of puffy eyes and facial swelling.
Exposure to cool weather also tightens the pores of your skin and invigorates your face. Think clear, bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Plus, you tend to produce less oil and sebum in the winter, so you may have fewer breakouts.
The bad news
Multiple elements can victimize your complexion, especially in high altitudes. Wind, sun, cold, heat and dryness create the perfect situation for chapped, depleted skin and can promote and contribute to aging. Click here for our winter skincare guide.
TellurideGlow embraces the cold
Powerful survivalist plants
We use high ratios of premium alpine botanicals because they produce powerful antioxidants, phytonutrients, and UV defenses to thrive in extremely cold climates. The air is cleaner, the soil undisturbed, and powerful secondary metabolites are produced to ward off pests and environmental aggression with some of the most beneficial plant composition on the planet.
TellurideGlow taps into these adaptive strategies with whole plant, certified organic formulas to nourish and protect against dehydration, free radical damage, sensitivities, and signs of premature aging.
Cold processing
Virgin and raw ingredients are well known for their nutritional benefits. Our premium botanical ingredients are abundant in bioactive anti-oxidants, plant-derived nutrients, essential fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids and minerals, so we seek out cold pressed ingredients to deliver better skin nutrition to restore and replenish the skin.
Cold formulating
Fresh botanical ingredients can lose much of their potency when heated, so to maintain the integrity of our raw ingredients we manufacture our whole plant formulas with cold technology, blending with extremely low to no heat during manufacturing.
Cold storage
Many warehouses are not climate controlled, so we searched until we found the right one to ensure our fresh ingredients are not compromised as temperatures rise.
We invite you to read how customers are loving and using the products here (https://www.tellurideglow.com/praise/).
Join thousands who love the results of better skin nutrition with TELLURIDEglow.
References:
- https://www.jci.org/articles/view/60433?key=5e3684aee3d55b74adc8
- http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(14)00006-0
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8022726?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
- https://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/best-sleeping-temperature/
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-0720%28199912%2913:6%3C561::AID-ACP661%3E3.0.CO;2-J/abstract
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8925815
- https://www.farmersalmanac.com/cedar-fever-33941
