Long walks in the fresh air, even on cold days, are good for health. The word of science!
Even if many on cold days prefer to use a sofa, blanket and Netflix at their spare time, taking a walk outdoors is good for our body and mind.
a Underline The benefits of walking, regardless of outside temperatures, were John Sharp, MD, a clinical psychiatrist and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) at Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The benefits are multiple. First, not absorbing enough sunlight can increase our stress levels and affect our emotional and physical health, leading to depression and fatigue.
Plus, exercise, even in cold temperatures, helps eliminate bacteria from the airways.
Sunlight and serotonin, tension away
Sunlight increases the release SerotoninThis is called the happiness hormone. The latter eliminates anxiety and aggression. Walking green also has the advantage of reducing stress hormone levels Improve memory.
Physiologically, we know that serotonin levels in the brain are lowest in the winter. Getting out of the house can boost a positive mood and relieve depression.Catherine A. Rocklin, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, is the author of a study that so-called “light therapy” may be beneficial for those with SAD.
Improving sleep rhythm / awakening
Moreover, lack of exposure to light can also alter circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep / wake cycles, negatively affect our mood and slow digestion.
Sunlight and Vitamin D.
As we know, indoor lighting levels are generally lower than outdoor levels. Also given that the amount of light in winter is less than in summer, staying indoors for extended periods of time can have a detrimental effect on our energy levels, attention, and mood.
Sunlight provides vitamin D which boosts calcium absorption and stimulates the immune system. According to Sharp, it will be necessary to walk daily for at least 10 minutes in the sun.
Winter walks are also beneficial to our emotional sphere
Let’s drop your computer and smartphone and have a nice walk in the fresh air. This way, we will feel more presence for ourselves and increase levels Dopamine, Which can improve our emotional outlook.
… and immune defenses
One Japanese study It has been shown that bathing in the woods or taking a short walk in the woods helps our immune system by reducing stress hormones and increasing anti-cancer proteins within cells.
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