WORDS LAURA POTTER
It might feel impossible to drag yourself out into freezing temperatures to cycle, hike or jog, but there’s plenty of research to show winter months are a fantastic time to get out of the house. Chilly conditions force your heart to work harder to pump blood around the body, which is great for cardiovascular health. In fact, studies have shown that simply shivering in the cold increases metabolic rate more than two-fold, upping fat burn and using up carbohydrates for energy.
‘Colder temperature draws more heat out of the body and threatens minimum body temperature maintenance,’ says Jim Pate, senior physiologist at The Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP; chhp.com). ‘Shivering is one of the first automatic responses your body has to cold. Muscles contract, burning energy and producing heat. Physical activity also increases heat production, helps maintain body temperature, and is achieved through significant calorie consumption.’