Fight Winter Colds—With Cold!
Fighting Off a Cold with Cold
Remember when you were told as a kid that you’d catch a cold if you went outside without a jacket and scarf?🤧 Well, that’s not entirely true. So why did little Timmy get sick after playing in the snow in just a long-sleeved shirt? And why did Ms. Parker come down with the flu after shoveling her driveway?
Curious why? Let’s find out from our friends at Morozko Forge!🔥
Why We Get Sick in the Winter
During the winter, cases of the common cold and flu naturally rise. According to Thomas Seager, PhD, of Morozko Forge, a major factor is lower vitamin D levels. Vitamin D supports the immune system and helps fight infections. We get most of our vitamin D from sunlight☀️, which allows our skin to synthesize it.
Winter days are shorter, and in places like Arizona, sunlight drops from around 12.2 hours in June to just 6.8 hours in December—a loss of nearly 5.5 hours! On top of that, the sun sits lower in the sky, reducing UV intensity. Thick winter clothing further limits sun exposure, which lowers vitamin D production.
While the cold itself doesn’t directly cause illness, it often keeps us indoors, further reducing sunlight exposure.
Less sun = less vitamin D = increased susceptibility to infection
How Can a Cold Bath Help
As discussed in previous articles, cold water exposure has been shown to boost immune function. Seager suggests that it may also stimulate vitamin D production. Cold activates brown fat, which releases tiny flashes of light called biophotons from its mitochondria. Some of this light may be in the UVB range, and if it hits cholesterol in active brown fat cells, it could help convert it into pre–vitamin D, which the body can later use. If getting sunlight during the day is difficult, cold water exposure could be a helpful alternative!
Feeling a cold coming on?🤒 Seager suggests a quick, cold dip in a cold bath. The brief shock of cold water stimulates the body and boosts the immune system to help fight off germs.
Not sure about plunging into cold water when it’s just as chilly outside? Yoga Cold Bath has you covered with both cold and hot amenities!♨️ After your immune-boosting cold dip, warm up in our salt-water hot tub, relax in a sauna ranging from 130°–190°, or treat yourself and book an appointment in our private room with a hot mineral bath. Soaking in mineral-rich water with magnesium, potassium, sodium, and copper will warm you up and give your immune system an extra boost.
Stop by Yoga Cold Bath today! Book a Contrast Therapy circuit or reserve a private room—your first circuit and yoga class are free!
Click here for more fascinating articles from Morozko Forge!