What Your Body Goes Through When There Is A Cold Snap

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As if the post-Christmas period wasn't bleak enough, now there's a cold snap to add insult to injury.

But apart from being wholly unpleasant and nipping at our finger, ears, feet and noses... what does the cold snap actually do to us psychologically and physically?

HuffPost UK Lifestyle spoke to three experts - a consultant dermatologist, a nutritionist and a psychotherapist to find out what to look out for and how to prepare for it.

One of the biggest questions we get asked is why we tend to eat more when the weather gets colder.

"The body has an inbuilt barometer that monitors temperature and alters metabolism accordingly," says The Food Doctor nutritionist Alice Mackintosh. "so that it speeds up if we are cold to generate heat and slows it down to cool us. The mere process of shivering expends large amounts of energy which is one of the reasons we are often hungrier when it’s colder and could go without a large meal when it’s warmer."

While the cold isn't a carte blanche excuse to ladle on the cheese and bury your head in a mountain of potatoes, you should make sure you're getting good sleep and eating regularly. "If you are tired or haven’t eaten for a few hours and the body is lacking in energy, it is common to notice not being able to tolerate the cold as well as you would if you had just had a warming stew," Alice explains. "It is clear therefore why we gravitate towards warming foods in the winter."

SEE ALSO: How To Do Comfort Food The Healthy Way

Hot meals certainly help, but there are natural ways of encouraging heat in the body. "There are certain foods that help encourage warmth in the body and these tend to be things that get circulation going and can even get us sweating a little. Spices are the front runners with ginger, chilli, turmeric and garlic being excellent candidates. Putting ground nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves into porridge in the morning can give it an warming kick on an icy morning, and having a spicy curry for lunch or supper can warm the cockles quite nicely."

Comfort - or the perception of comfort- isn't just about food, though. "When we feel physically cold, we crave warmth and comfort - physically and emotionally," says psychotherapist Karin Sieger.

"We turn to our partners, families or friends, watch more good-time and romantic films, eat and drink more. Perhaps we can borrow from the Danish art of hygge (pronounced 'hooga), which roughly translates to coziness, and means creating a nice, warm atmosphere and sharing the good things in life with people you enjoy. Even if we are alone, putting more emphasis on a comfortable surrounding at home can help lift our spirits, and it needn't cost much."

Conversely, even though you may want to spend all your time indoors, indulging in that all the time is not the best idea.

"Depression and fatigue are higher during the winter months," she adds, "when there is less natural sunlight. Our bodies produce less Vitamin D, which is needed for proper immune function, and serotonin which affects our mood, sleep and appetite is low. Having an extra brisk walk during day light hours can help. Especially during a cold snap, with more sunlight, crisper air and less greyness and damp being outdoors can be uplifting."

When you are outdoors however, you may want to take preventative measures to protect any exposed skin.

Dr Nemesha Desai, consultant dermatologist at London Bridge Hospital, says: "As the weather gets colder, the skin becomes drier and more susceptible to irritants. Many of us experience tightness of the skin, stinging and irritation. Those with a tendency to dry skin may develop visible patches of dryness, scaling and even redness. Younger and older skin is more susceptible."

Story continues below the slideshow:

Perks Of Cold Weather

Cold Weather Burns Calories(01 of06)

You may have heard of "brown fat," a type of fat found naturally in parts of the body that, when triggered, can burn off other "white" fat. In a 2012 study, researchers found that cold weather seemed to set the brown fat into motion, and that simply being cold could cause significant calorie burn. (Exercise may have a similar effect, as demonstrated in a study from around the same time, the New York Times reported.)The study, admittedly, was small -- it only included six healthy men, to be exact. And experts caution that the obesity epidemic is not likely to be solved by the creation of a brown-fat triggering pill. But at least the idea might offer a little comfort when you find yourself chilled to the bone. (credit:Shutterstock)

Cold Weather Brings Us Closer(02 of06)

It can be tempting to spend the coldest mornings safely tucked under the covers; it's only natural to want to avoid the most brutal temps. But during periods of such weather-induced isolation, we tend to reach out to contact our closest friends and family on the phone, and end up chatting with them for longer than usual, according to a 2012 study. (credit:Shutterstock)

Cold Weather Is Less Hospitable For Disease-Carrying Bugs(03 of06)

During the summer of 2012 -- when West Nile cases were climbing -- much was made of the milder 2011-2012 winter and its effect on the disease-spreading mosquito population.The pests thrive in milder climates, meaning they were able to survive -- and breed -- all winter, just waiting to feast come spring.Freezing or below-freezing temps might kill off some skeeters (and ticks), thereby protecting you from the illnesses they are known to spread. (credit:Flickr:capsun)

Cold Weather Brings Greater Appreciation Of Brighter Days(04 of06)

Week after week of balmy weather sounds pretty lovely right about now, but there's evidence to suggest that it doesn't necessarily make you happy.In fact, some research suggests that if the weather never changes, you start taking that sunshine for granted. Shivering through the cold makes those warm spring days seem even better when they finally come along, according to Psychology Today. (credit:Shutterstock)

Cold Weather Can Reduce Inflammation(05 of06)

There's a reason putting ice on an injury works. That drop in temperature reduces inflammation in, say, a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. But the theory works on a much grander scale, too -- cold temperatures can reduce inflammation and pain all over.In fact, athletes and spa-goers even have a remedy of sorts available for muscle recovery. A 2011 study found that, at extremely low temperatures, such treatments, called cryotherapy, did more for athletes to recover from physical activity than simply resting. Runners who were exposed to temperatures as low as -166 degrees F recovered from exercise faster than those who given other therapies or told to rest, The Atlantic reported.At spas, cryotherapy chambers appear much like steam rooms -- with, of course, the opposite effect. And while the majority of us probably won't be taking a trip to the cold room, it certainly beats summer swelling! (credit:Alamy)

Cold Weather May Boost Your Body Image(06 of06)

While we certainly don't advise going all-out on the wintertime comfort foods, we do appreciate the escape from the pressure to get a "bikini body." It's a great time to focus on fitness -- hello, New Year's resolutions -- without the pressure to do so for your looks alone. (credit:Alamy)

The reasons behind this, says Dr Desai, is because the humidity in the air drops with the temperature. "When exposed to drier air, water from the upper layers of the skin evaporates, leading to drying and cracking of the skin surface. The normal skin barrier is disrupted. Dry cracked skin is more permeable and vulnerable to attack by irritants such as soaps and solvents. Start your winter skin regime as early as you can."

DR DESAI'S TOP TIPS FOR WINTER SKIN
1. Keep re-hydrating the skin
Start replacing moisture loss by switching to a richer regular moisturiser (e.g. creams, instead of lotions) and use moisturising washes or oils in the bath.
Timing is key. The skin is most hydrated immediately after washing. The easiest and quickest way to seal in moisture is to apply a moisturiser within minutes of getting out of the bath or shower.
2. Avoid dehydrating the skin
Turn the central heating down a notch. Central heating dries the air, lowering humidity in your home and dries the skin further.
Take shorter showers or baths. Long hot baths also increase water loss from the skin surface.
3. Avoid irritants
Your skin will be more susceptible to irritants in winter. Switch to soap free shower gels and soap free cleanser facial cleansers.

uk lifestyle news Winter skin Health Comfort Food cold snap

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