It is May, and the cold of winter and coolness of spring are mostly behind us as we welcome the summer months ahead. It probably seems untimely to talk about winter in May, but I hope that you will find the health benefits of winter interesting.
Every year, most years, from December through February—indoors and outdoors—we hear people say, “It is SO COLD out here!”, “I can’t wait until spring!”, “Look at all that snow.”, “[Groan] Ice!?”, “I have to shovel again?”
We can think of many unpleasant things about winter—cold, ice, snow, shorter days and longer nights, shoveling, sand, salt, dirty cars, depression, the flu, heavy coats, gloves, ear muffs, boots. On the other hand, there are those who are very positive toward winter because they can ski, snowboard, sled, ice skate, and simply enjoy the colder temperatures because there are people who really like winter.
But does winter really offer actual health benefits? Let’s take a look.
You Might be Smarter in Winter
Colder weather can help you think more clearly according to a 2017 study by Stanford University. The study found that some cognitive skills like decision-making and staying calm were performed with more control during colder weather. Study participants were less impulsive and were more likely to take on complex tasks in the winter than they would in the summer. The brain requires glucose to function and the body uses more glucose in the summer in order to keep its core temperature down, and it, therefore, has less for reasoning and recall.
Burn More
You burn more calories during cold weather because it takes a greater amount of energy to keep ourselves warm. Another American study in 2017 found that when the outside temperature hovered between 14° and 23° Fahrenheit, 34 percent more calories were burned while hiking than on a 50° day.
Do You Have Diabetes?
Exposure to mild cold temperatures will activate a diabetic’s “brown fat.” This is the tissue that produces heat and this helps to absorb excess sugar in the blood. Repeated exposure will lead to improved insulin sensitivity.
A 2017 study done by the University of Toronto found that pregnant women who were exposed to cold outdoor temperatures were less likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Achoooo!
Tree, grass, and weed pollens are reduced during the cold months of the year, thereby reducing allergy symptoms. However, all good things have a bad tradeoff—if you’re allergic to mold, that allergy can be worse in the cold.
Ahhhhh, Zzzzzz
When you lie down to sleep, your body’s core temperature drops over the next two hours in the summer. However, it happens faster in the winter. And when sunrise is later, you naturally sleep later.
Infections, viruses, and colds, oh my!
It is true that during the winter months, we are more likely to become the victim of an infection or virus. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can energize our immune system with just a few minutes of exposure to frigid temperatures.
A Heart’s Work is Never Done
The heart works harder during the cold months to pump blood and maintain body temperature during periods of physical exertion. Exercising outdoors in the winter strengthens the heart muscle. However, here is another tradeoff—be careful if you are at risk for heart disease. Exercising outdoors too much can also raise your blood pressure and decrease oxygen to the brain, and that puts added stress on the heart.
Layer After Layer
Layering is the key to staying warm and dry during your daily excursions outside. Hypothermia and frostbite can happen quickly when the temperature is frigid, so keeping as much of the body as you can shielded from the cold, you are less likely to have to worry about those conditions. Cold temperatures, strong winds, and damp conditions will steal your body heat. Layering traps your body heat and becomes a kind of insulation against the elements.
What Can I Do?
Here are some suggestions for outdoor winter activities:
- Brisk walking or hiking
- Jogging or running
- Raking leaves
- Shoveling snow
- Ice skating
- Skiing
- Sledding
- Snowboarding
- Cross-country skiing
Am I Blue?
Because the days are shorter and nights are longer, and ice and snow can often keep us homebound for days at a time, it isn’t surprising that we might experience depression. But exercising or even just standing on your front porch in the sunshine for a few minutes can improve your mood and help you take in vitamin D which is essential for our overall well-being, keeps our teeth and bones strong, and supports our immune system so that we might better fight off the infections and viruses (including Covid-19) that are more prevalent during the cold winter months. It also reduces inflammation, the risk of heart disease and the growth of cancer cells, and it can even help you lose some of those extra holiday pounds.
Did You Know? Because it gets wet so easily with sweat, rain, or snow, your first layer should not be cotton. The moisture will be trapped and you will feel colder and heavier. Use moisture wicking fabric (used in high-performance sportswear), then fleece, and then a thin waterproof layer.
Inspiration Says
We should follow the eight laws of health (pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, water, and trust in divine power) during the cold months just as much as we do during the warmer ones.
“True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand.” Lift Him Up, 260
“I have been shown that a great amount of suffering might be saved if all would labor to prevent disease, by strictly obeying the laws of health. … Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not regard their prayers because their faith was not made perfect by works. God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health, and make no effort to prevent disease. When we do all we can on our part to have health, then may we expect that the blessed results will follow, and we can ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the preservation of health. He will then answer our prayer, if His name can be glorified thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to do. God will not work in a miraculous manner to preserve the health of persons who are taking a sure course to make themselves sick, by their careless inattention to the laws of health.
“In order to preserve health, temperance in all things is necessary—temperance in labor, temperance in eating and drinking. … The body, which God calls His temple, should be preserved in as healthy a condition as possible.” The Review and Herald, April 2, 1914
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
Source: readersdigest.ca/health/healthy-living/cold-weather-good-for-you; heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/getting-active/how-to-stay-active-in-cold-weather; healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d#may-support-weight-loss, accessibility: March, 2025