We reveal the latest well-being trend for making the most of winter – it can be good for you!
**STUDY BY HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
As the clocks go back and we turn on the central heating, the long, wintry months stretch out ahead. But there’s no need to dread darker days – there are plenty of reasons why this season boosts our well-being. Not only has it been proven that cold weather can be beneficial for our health, but the slower months are a chance to restore and heal. Here’s the lowdown on why it’s time to welcome winter.
The benefits of a bit of brrrr
What do you want to do when the temperature plummets? Snuggle up under a blanket with a hot chocolate in front of the TV? You could be missing a trick – if you want to ease your aches and pains, feel happier, sleep more soundly and even stave off dementia, you might want to get up and get out.
Head outdoors
Aim for every day – even just a walk. Any exercise outside can help to prevent circulatory disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression and other serious conditions, explains Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones, but doing it in cold weather brings further benefits. The elements make your body work harder than when exercising indoors. Plus, the cold triggers your body’s brown fat (a type of fat that helps to maintain your body temperature when you get too cold) to burn more calories.
Go wild in water
Open-air swimming is so popular it’s practically mainstream now, and it seems that Brits are not put off by bad weather. More than 4.1 million people regularly take a dip in England’s seas, lakes and rivers, according to Sport England.
Well-being experts believe that this can supercharge health. There’s evidence that an outdoor dip is good for the nervous system, and it will provide you with a rush of feel-good endorphins. But it is important to note that extremes of temperature should be avoided by those with high blood pressure, heart conditions or asthma, and by pregnant women.
Try to adopt a Scandi mindset
Our ability to cope with harsh winters could be down to outlook. In a town on the Norwegian coast – 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle – the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, and temperatures drop below 0C for months. Despite bleak conditions, researchers found that locals don’t dread the darkness. Instead, they thrive due to a ‘positive winter mindset’, which sees them enjoying cold-weather activities, such as s
