3 benefits of exercising outdoors in cold weather

When the temperature drops, many people go inside to do some exercise.

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Yes, it's warmer in the gym or at home, but cold weather exercise has little health benefit.

Burn more calories

Research shows that daily exposure to cold increases the volume of brown adipose tissue or brown fat of a body. But is not fat a bad thing? It depends. Unlike white fat, which stores calories, brown fat burns them.

A study conducted in 2014 found that cold not only makes brown fat more active, but could also lead to fat cell growth.

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"The browning of fat tissue would be an excellent defense against obesity. This would ensure that the body burns extra calories instead of converting them to extra fat, "said Philip A. Kern, author of the study, in a statement.

"As for physical training, we advocate thermal training," the researchers said. "More frequent exposure to cold will not save the world, but is a serious factor to consider in creating a sustainable environment as well as a healthy lifestyle."

>> See also: Do ​​this exercise one hour a week to prevent heart attacks, according to a study

Increase vitamin D and fight SAD

The shorter winter days and lower temperatures can contribute not only to vitamin D deficiency, but also to the development of seasonal affective disorder.

A recommendation for treating TAS is a light therapy box that mimics sunlight. But light boxes can not increase your vitamin D intake. Exercising on the outside, even if it's only a walk, can be beneficial to both for vitamins and fitness.

>> Related: Are two minutes of exercise worth 30 minutes?

Strengthen your cardiovascular system

According to a study from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, an outdoor exercise could reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 27%, CNN reported.

Exercising in cold weather challenges your body and can help strengthen a healthy heart. The opposite is true for people with heart problems.

As the cold forces your heart to work harder, a heart in poor health may have trouble pumping blood throughout your body. A 2018 study published in the journal JAMA Cardiology revealed a higher incidence of heart attacks on days with lower temperatures and stronger winds.

>> Related: Study: Regular exercise can prevent older people from falling

Any exercise is better than nothing, but being outdoors when it's cold in the air can increase the benefits of your workout.

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