Winters are upon us, and it’s going to be a ‘physical’ struggle to extricate yourself from the bed long enough to get your shoes on and go for a run. Also, not everyone is a huge fan of running. Building a habit to run everyday takes discipline, will power, and strength.
So, the question is — is it worth it to keep running even as the mercury drops? The answer is — yes. Running in winter has several many benefits, including faster recovery, better immunity, prevention of winter weight gain, etc.
7 Benefits of running in winter
1. Winter running can help prevent holiday weight gain
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We are more likely to eat more and move less in winter. This could cause our bodies to store more fat in winter which can slow down metabolism, especially if we are not physically active. This lifestyle habit can lead to sneaky seasonal weight gain, which could be hard to drop.
Running in cold weather can help prevent winter weight gain. It will also maintain your metabolism and a healthy weight all year around.
2. Winter running can help prevent SAD
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Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of seasonal depression that tends to recur at the same time, especially during that time of the year when the days are shorter and the nights are longer. SAD is characterized by symptoms like fatigue, depression, hopelessness and social withdrawal.
If you face this too, you can gain benefits from ‘runner’s high’. Runner’s high is a type of positive emotional boost that runners experience after a vigorous run. It will help stabilize your mood and keep your mental health up to date.
3. Winter running burns more calories
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Will your body burn more calories if you go running in winter? The answer is yes. During the cold season, the body has to expend more energy to get your core temperature up. This results in a high rate of calorie burn.
If you are looking to hit your goal weight during the winter arc, take up running as you will end up burning more calories.
4. Run in winter to soak up some Vitamin D
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Winters could lead to deficiency of Vitamin D as there are less hours of sunlight during the day. If you are someone who spends all their time indoors during the day, you may end up missing the peak morning sunlight entirely.
You can remedy it by going running in the morning. It will give you an excellent opportunity to soak up some Vitamin D. Deficiency of Vitamin D can cause weight gain, moodiness, lowered immune system, and inflammation.
5. Winter running can boost your cardiovascular system
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You can boost your cardiovascular system by running in winter as your body does not have to work hard to cool down. Your heart can freely focus on delivering oxygen to your muscles efficiently.
Exercising in cold weather amps up the body’s tolerance to stressors, and reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published in the Life Sciences journal in 2023.
6. Winter running can increase endurance and stamina
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As mentioned earlier, running in winter makes your body work harder to keep itself warm. This could help in building endurance and stamina if done regularly. This can also help your body use oxygen more efficiently.
Better endurance and stamina improve our physical performance and ability to sustain in any physical activity.
7. Winter running can boost immunity
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A lot of us get hit hard by cold or flu during winter. Going running in winter or doing any form of physical exercise can help reduce the likelihood of falling sick as your immunity builds up.
The colder months could get harsh on your immune system. So, it’s important to take care of your physical health to avoid falling sick.
Social and lead images credits: Freepik
