What can and cannot be done in winter: 12 harmful misconceptions, which it is time to abandon
'04.12.2021'
Source: Adme
Beliefs about what can and cannot be done in winter pass from generation to generation. They inspire much in childhood, and we do not question the words of adults. Nevertheless, the most established truths may not be true, writes Adme.ru.
Myth # 1: If you shrink in the cold, you’ll freeze less
In fact, a man hunched over in the cold, with his head in his shoulders, will freeze faster than someone who walks with his back spread, as usual. After all, a shrunken posture interferes with the normal circulation of blood in the vessels, and this does not allow heat to be effectively distributed throughout the body.
Myth # 2: In Winter, Always Get Better
Partly this makes sense: it is difficult to survive the winter without gaining a couple of kilos. But this is not winter to blame, but our lifestyle. During the cold season, I don’t want to leave the house, so in winter we move much less than in summer. In addition, we are drawn to hot and satisfying food, as the body spends more energy to maintain heat. But if you follow the diet, trying not to change eating habits, find the opportunity to be active and not to lean heavily on New Year's goodies, extra pounds will not come.
Myth number 3: If you walk in thin tights, you get sick and earn arthritis
If there are no abnormal frosts in the yard, then frostbite lovers of nylon tights are not threatened, as, indeed, those who tuck their trousers on their ankles. Thin tights will also not hurt the joints: arthritis can only be earned in very cold weather, when it is unlikely that you will want to go outside in light clothing.
Problems begin if your feet sweat. On permanently wet feet, it is easier to develop a fungal infection. There are nylon pantyhose and another danger: they create a kind of greenhouse effect in the genital area, which can cause diseases like cystitis or thrush. To avoid this, you should wear cotton breathable underwear under tights.
Myth No. 4: Chicken stock is a good cure for the common cold.
Not certainly in that way. Hot teas, soups, broths that we love to drink when we are sick do not help to recover, but only temporarily remove the symptoms. But this is not bad either. Hot liquid at least briefly facilitates breathing, helping to remove mucus from the nose, and relieves sore throat. And the chicken broth is hearty and replenishes the water balance. But neither broth nor tea can fight viruses. So there is no point in abandoning them during an illness, but you also should not perceive them as a panacea.
Myth No. 5: A fireplace is warm and cozy, the best thing for winter
In New Year's films, we are often shown a happy family, who are comfortable by the fireplace. In fact, everything is not so rosy: the heat from the fireplace extends only a couple of meters, while the rest of the room remains cold. And you can’t sit at the fire for a long time: the smoke from the fireplace enters the lungs, which is at least unpleasant and at the very least capable of causing an infection.
However, you can escape from these problems with a special glass screen. The appearance of an open fire will become less romantic, but the heat will be evenly distributed throughout the room, and combustion products will not fly out of the fireplace.
On the subject: How to keep warm in a cold house: 14 proven life hacks
Myth # 6: You're stupid in winter
Many people think that in winter the brain hibernates and it becomes more difficult to cope with things that require intellectual effort. But studies have shown that in winter, mental abilities do not deteriorate. Throughout all seasons, the reaction rate of the subjects remained unchanged. The memory did not suffer either. Unless in winter it was a little harder for them to concentrate, but these changes were not very noticeable. By the way, in people living far in the north, the brain works even better on a polar night than in the warm seasons.
Myth number 7: In order not to freeze, you should wrap your mouth and nose with a scarf
Just the opposite. From breathing, the fabric of the scarf will be moistened, therefore, the incoming air will become even colder. And this is fraught with colds and hypothermia. Although it is still worth covering your face from the wind. The hood will do just fine with this.
Myth # 8: In winter, the body is catastrophically deficient in vitamin D
Vitamin D is primarily absorbed through ultraviolet rays. In winter, this is difficult, as the sunlight becomes much less. But this is not a reason to buy pills on their own. If you feel that your productivity has fallen and your mood has worsened, then consult a doctor and take supplements only on his recommendation. In general, in most cases, the right foods will help support the body during the cloudy period: sour cream, butter, egg yolks, fish. They also contain vitamin D.
Myth # 9: Lack of sunlight causes depression
In fact, the lack of light and heat affects the chance of developing depression only indirectly, but this is not fully proven by science. Depression is psychogenic and endogenous: the first occurs after traumatic life events (which, of course, has no relation to the time of year), and the second - due to internal factors that are still not well understood. Depression can occur with equal probability at any time of the year.
But the mood in the winter can really worsen, since serotonin - the hormone of happiness - is synthesized just thanks to sunlight.
On the subject: Simple pleasures: 9 healthy and enjoyable steps to the best winter of your life
Myth # 10: Jogging is Better Delayed until Spring
On the contrary. The lower the temperature outside, the more intense we run, which means that in the same amount of time we will burn more calories. And because you inhale cold air with your mouth during training, nothing bad will happen: dry air is harmful to the larynx, but not cold. And if you follow the correct breathing technique, that is, inhale with your nose and exhale with your mouth, the air will have time to warm up and moisturize along the way to the lungs.
Roughly the same thing applies to other street workouts. True, in winter, athletes should choose their clothes more carefully so as not to sweat or freeze.
Myth No. 11: Shopping fruits and vegetables are pointless to eat out of season
Most fruits and vegetables grown in orchards do not really survive until winter. But fruits from greenhouses perfectly replace them. The taste of greenhouse fruits may not differ for the better, but there are as many vitamins in them as in summer ones. And it’s important to include vitamin-rich foods in your diet. It is in winter that the chance of developing hypovitaminosis is great.
Myth No. 12: Before a long walk, you should drink hot tea so you don’t freeze longer
In fact, drinking tea or coffee will freeze you even faster. After taking hot fluid, the blood vessels dilate. When you go out in the cold, the body will immediately lose a lot of heat due to the large temperature difference. In order not to freeze, before going out instead of tea, it is better to eat something nutritious: the calories obtained will gradually be burned and warm the body.
How do you deal with winter blues?
