As the weather suddenly turns cold, more people are suffering from colds. When the temperature drops, our bodies constrict blood vessels and produce heat to maintain a constant body temperature. If this function deteriorates, it can lead to hypothermia, causing loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death. Let's explore ways to maintain body temperature in daily life.

 

Controlling body temperature through food

 

Ginger, garlic, onion, ginseng, jujube, and burdock are 대표적으로 foods that raise our body temperature. When feeling cold, drink ginger tea or ginseng tea to warm the body. When it's cold, you tend to go to the bathroom more often, so replenishing fluids is also important. Make a conscious effort to drink warm tea or water.

 

Drinking alcohol because you're cold is absolutely forbidden.

 

In Western movies, you often see scenes where people warm themselves by drinking vodka and high-proof alcohol during cold winter weather. However, this is a misconception. Some people think that drinking alcohol will keep them warm, but in reality, alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased heat loss and making it easier for body temperature to drop. This is also why many alcohol-related deaths occur in winter. Drinking alcohol in cold weather and then taking off your clothes or spending time outdoors is absolutely dangerous. Relying on alcohol to warm your body is a life-threatening behavior, so caution is advised.

Light physical activity and exposure to sunlight

 

The colder it gets, the more you tend to curl up your body. However, reducing activity is not good for maintaining body temperature. It is recommended to do light walking, jogging, or stretching to loosen up muscles that have tensed up from the cold, and to facilitate breathing and circulation. Additionally, during winter, the decrease in sunlight can lead to an increase in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). At this time, receiving sunlight while engaging in light exercise is suitable for maintaining body temperature. Moreover, it activates the synthesis of vitamin D and hormone secretion, which can help alleviate seasonal depression. Even in cold weather, do not curl up; instead, spend about 20 minutes a day taking a walk and photosynthesizing between 12 PM and 2 PM when sunlight is most abundant.

 

Layering thin clothes to achieve warmth

 

In the past, the 'long underwear' that elders considered an essential winter item. Nowadays, various thin undergarments called HeatTech are available in different forms. When maintaining body temperature, wearing multiple layers of thin clothing is more effective than a single thick garment. Additionally, when entering indoor spaces, sweating and drying can cause body temperature to drop. Wearing several layers of easily removable and wearable clothes is useful. It is also wise to make good use of winter accessories such as ear muffs, scarves, gloves, fur hats, and masks.

 

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I like to layer clothes even in winter.

Rather than wearing just one alone

It has excellent insulation.

 

I didn't make ginger tea last year because the ginger harvest was poor.

I hope the ginger harvest goes well this year.