Did you know that our bodies change with the weather? I bet you've felt it! With winter rolling in, you might notice your itchy eyes, dry skin, or gloomier mood. But, did you know that there are some AMAZING things our bodies do to adjust and protect us, as well? Let's talk about them... they're pretty cool (pun intended)!
BLOOD FLOW INCREASES. Your body opens its blood vessels to bring warm blood to areas that are cold, including the skin.
BLOOD PRESSURE RISES. Cold weather causes your veins and arteries to narrow and more pressure is required to push blood through them.
ROSY CHEEKS. After your blood vessels constrict, they dilate. Your skin gets a rush of blood which causes a pink hue on the skin, especially on your nose and cheeks,
SHIVERS. When it's really cold outside, you start to shiver. The muscle activity from shivering helps generate heat to warm you up. Snehalata Topgi, MD, says to "Think about it as your muscles doing sit-ups and creating a warm environment."
FOOD CRAVINGS. Shorter days mean less time in the sunlight. This leaves our bodies craving Vitamin D, B12 and Zinc. You may find yourself craving red meat, eggs, fish, nuts or beans. Fascinating! That's probably one of many reasons why we love a tasty chili on cold days.
LESS HAIR LOSS. You lose less hair in the winter. Why? We lose most of our body heat through our heads, so we need MORE hair in the winter to keep us warm. However, the percentage of heat you lose through your head depends on how well you bundle up the rest of your body. Interesting! Wear more clothes and you'll lose less heat from your head.
METABOLISM INCREASES, Our metabolism goes up when we get cold to help deal with the stress of extreme temperatures. This is due to a change in hormones. Interesting, huh?! I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like a faster metabolism!
We could go on and on about how incredible our bodies are and the many things they do!!! They adapt with us and to our surroundings. What a powerful thing! As we celebrate Thanksgiving soon, the Nielson Chiropractic Clinic Team is grateful for the incredible blessing of the human body! Happy Gratitude Week!
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