UPDATED February 4th, 2018
As you grumble about having to face another winter blizzard headed your way, it’s hard to imagine that all that wind, snow, and frigid temperatures are actually good for your health—or that there could possibly be any benefits of cold weather. Especially when everyone you know has been coughing and sneezing since November. But contrary to popular belief, health experts say that there are plenty of advantages the cold provides for our bodies and minds.
As WSJ reports, according to Wojtek J. Chodzko-Zajko, head of the department of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champa, “Going for a walk in the park after a fresh snowfall is one of the most exhilarating, stress-reducing things I can think of.” In fact, in cold weather you are more likely to burn calories faster, breathe fresher air, think clearer , have a better self-image, and spend more bonding time with your loved ones, which is good for mind, body and spirit.
Here are 15 benefits of cold weather, which might inspire you to love it that much more (or at all):
Read Related: 7 Reasons to Love Cold Weather