So why is a Chicago Snow Plow company writing a blog post about the health advantages of winter? Frankly, we love winter and snowing weather, and we’re tired of it getting a bad rap. So many people talk about winter as being bad for your health. They say there’s flu and colds and all sorts of ailments like arthritis that worsen in the cold weather. Well, what about the health advantages to winter? We did some research to see if we could help you appreciate our cold Chicago winters a bit.
- Cold weather burns more calories. A recent study from the Netherlands was published where researchers found that simply being cold causes your body to burn more calories. They said "The human body withstands the cold by shivering, which produces heat; this provides one explanation for why cold temperatures may promote weight loss. Studies have shown that people expend five times more energy when shivering than when they are resting." Hmmm. I’m liking that weight loss trick! Basically our bodies work harder in cold weather to maintain its ideal temperature.
- Cold weather brings us closer together. We spend more time indoors with our families, talking and spending quality time together without the distracting activities of summer and over-busyness. Cold weather in Chicago also indicates the holidays are here with all the excitement that surrounds those festivities.
- Cold weather keeps disease-carrying bugs away. For example, mosquitoes and ticks have trouble surviving in the cold. This reduces your likelihood of catching diseases like West Nile virus of Lyme disease. Plus most people agree that the end of mosquito season is always a good thing!
- Cold weather reduces inflammation. It’s like putting ice on an injury. Cold weather can actually reduce pain and inflammation all over your body.
- Less hair loss occurs in winter. In one University Hospital of Zurich study, researchers followed 823 women for six years and found that they lost the most hair in the summer and the least in the winter.
- Cold weather actually helps fight germs. Many people think cold temperatures cause colds and illnesses. But the opposite is actually true according to researchers and Rachel C. Vreeman, M.D., co-author of “Don’t Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health.” She says, "Cells that fight infection in the body actually increase if you go out into the cold." And getting fresh air gets you out of confined areas where germs breed.
- Cold weather lets you exercise for the right reasons. Since you’re not trying to get that bikini body, you’re exercising for the health benefits of the activity. That’s healthier for you in the long run and studies show that if you keep up daily exercise rain, sleet or snow it will be a healthy habit that lasts a lifetime.
We hope you can see that there are some great reasons to enjoy winter. Whether you love winter sports, curling up with a good book by a fire, or watching the Bears beat the Packers, it is a time of unique opportunities as well as health benefits. If you own a business or commercial property in Illinois, please let us know if we can put our love of winter to work for you managing your snow and ice removal.