{"id":26142,"date":"2023-08-17T12:20:33","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T12:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifehackerguy.com\/?p=26142"},"modified":"2023-08-17T12:20:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T12:20:33","slug":"does-being-cold-and-wet-lower-your-immune-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifehackerguy.com\/does-being-cold-and-wet-lower-your-immune-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Being Cold And Wet Lower Your Immune System?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cDon\u2019t go outside, you\u2019ll catch a cold\u201d is a common phrase that you might have heard from your mother while you were growing up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
So the real question is: does being cold and wet lower your immune system?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what we are here to find out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For years people have been passing down the following wisdom:<\/p>\n
This advice stems from the fact that people get sick more often in the winter, leading people to believe the cold weather itself is what is making you sick. (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n This is not the case.<\/p>\n However, that doesn\u2019t mean that you are not more susceptible to getting sick in colder weather.<\/p>\n While the cold weather itself doesn\u2019t cause you to catch a cold, you can become sick more often when the weather cools down. (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n There are a few reasons this happens:<\/p>\n Colder weather can have an effect on your immune response which leaves you more open to infection.<\/p>\n This is because your immune system becomes more \u201csluggish\u201d in cold weather which allows viruses to multiply faster.<\/p>\n A basic explanation for this is that your immune cells are meant to commit \u201csuicide\u201d in order to prevent the spreading of viruses.<\/p>\n They are less likely to do this in cold weather than they are in warmer weather.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another reason your immune system can be affected in the colder weather is that you get less Vitamin D in the winter months than you do in the summer months.<\/p>\n Because people tend to stay inside during colder months, and the days are shorter so there is less time to expose yourself to the sun, most people do not get the same levels of Vitamin D in the winter as they do in the summer.<\/p>\n Vitamin D is crucial when it comes to activating your immune system.<\/p>\n Cold temperatures also affect your nose, which plays a role as well.<\/p>\n You might not know this, but your nose is very important when it comes to your immune system.<\/p>\n Your nose helps you defend yourself against illness due to the tiny hairs and mucus collecting dust, bacteria, and other germs.<\/p>\n In the colder months, your nose\u2019s immune response is suppressed, causing you to get sick easier.<\/p>\n Dry air can make it harder for your body to fight off infection. This is because a lack of humidity makes it easier for flu viruses to spread. (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n Using the heat in the winter can make the air you are in even drier.<\/p>\n Dry air can also cause the blood vessels in your upper respiratory tract to become more narrow which makes it harder for white blood cells to travel and fight infection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even though being out in the cold can make you more susceptible to catching a cold or flu, there are some benefits to being cold as well.<\/p>\n This has never been more prevalent than as cold plunges and ice baths are becoming popular for health and wellness.<\/p>\n A major advocate for cold plunges and ice baths is Wim Hof<\/a>. <\/p>\n It might seem counter-intuitive, but cold plunges actually have great benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not only that, but cold plunges can help build up your immune system<\/a>.<\/p>\n So how does that work?<\/p>\n By exposing your body to cold water you release Glutathione, an antioxidant that aids the immune system.<\/p>\n Glutathione helps by redirecting your immune response to antiviral pathways which can increase your immunity against infection.<\/p>\n If getting into cold plunges sounds like something you are interested in, there are some tricks to keep in mind to get you started.<\/p>\n These include:<\/p>\n Cold plunges can be expensive, but don\u2019t let that discourage you. You can make an ice bath all by yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many things you can do to help improve your immune system in cold weather to prevent catching a pesky illness.<\/p>\n These tips and tricks include:<\/p>\n If you are finding it hard during the long winter months to get the proper nutrients, you can always look into supplements.<\/p>\n A great way to get more fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and probiotics is to take a greens powder supplement. Greens powder supplements have risen in popularity as life has gotten busier for the average adult. Currently only 10% of people get the proper servings of fruits and vegetables, and that is because no one has the time to buy, wash, and cook the ideal servings every day. (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\nThe Science Behind It<\/h2>\n
Immune Response<\/h3>\n
Lower Vitamin D Levels<\/h3>\n
Cold Weather and Your Nose<\/h3>\n
Dry Air<\/h3>\n
Narrowing Blood Vessels<\/h3>\n
Using Cold To Your Advantage<\/h2>\n
These include:<\/h3>\n
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How To Take The Plunge<\/h3>\n
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How To Boost Your Immune System In Cold Weather<\/h2>\n
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