Cozy Keys to Good Health: How Staying Warm Eases Pain, Fights Colds and More
Cozy keys to good health
Hot cocoa tames pain
The next time a damp, chilly day makes you feel stiff and sore, reach for a study-proven painkiller—a delicious mug of hot cocoa! Swedish investigators reporting in the journal PLOS One say that hot cocoa boasts rich stores of phytonutrients (flavanols) that quickly calm overactive pain nerves and tamp down tissue inflammation, easing achiness in as little as five minutes. More good news: Their research found that nibbling a few ounces of milk or dark chocolate can give you the same impressive pain relief.
Bed stretches soothe sore muscles
Instead of scrambling out of bed and reaching for your to-do list, take a few minutes to relax under the covers while you stretch your arms, legs and back. Brazilian scientists say gently stretching warm, relaxed muscles tamps down pain flares as effectively as outdoor walks can.
A fuzzy blanket sharpens focus
Dreary weather and more time spent cooped-up indoors can make you feel foggy and scattered. Thankfully, taking a few minutes to snuggle under a warm, fuzzy blanket can help, boosting focus, concentration and productivity by as much as 52 percent. That’s the word from Columbia University scientists, whose study revealed that even a 2°F boost in skin temperature instantly relaxes and opens arteries, increasing the flow of energizing, oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
While you’re relaxing under a warm throw, try writing out a list of fun things you’d love to do (such as shopping for new houseplants, visiting your favorite bakery or enjoying a game night with friends). This can sharpen your focus within minutes, British investigators say. They explain that even just anticipating happy times fuels the release of energizing beta brain waves.
Your favorite cardigan tames stress
If you catch yourself stressing when you’d rather be smiling, try donning a pretty cardigan. Temple University research suggests that layering on this cozy topper cuts tension, edginess and anxiety by as much as 60 percent in minutes. How? Experts say the gratitude you feel when you’re wearing clothing that you love (and that helps you stay comfy and warm on chilly days) prompts the release of tension-taming neurotransmitters.
Bonus points if you knit your own sweater or scarf! Spending a little time each day doing something creative, such as knitting, crocheting or scrapbooking, drops your stress level by as much as 75 percent, an Australian study suggests. That’s because creative activities stimulate brain nerves to release the calming hormone serotonin.
A cozy fire blocks colds
Relaxing by a warm, crackling fire a few times each week while you read, listen to music or just gaze at the pretty flames cuts your risk of colds, influenza and other winter ills in half. Plus it reduces your recovery time if you’re under the weather right now, USC research suggests. The calming sight, sound and warmth of a cozy fire makes stress hormone levels plunge, and that healthy hormone shift activates 220 immunity-boosting genes.
Already under the weather? Try stretching out for a little snooze, which reduces your symptoms and recovery time if you pick up a cold or other viral ill this winter. So say Chinese investigators, who found that germ-fighting immune cells (lymphocytes) are far more active when you’re well-rested.
A hot bath lifts your spirits
Meh moods tend to drag us down more frequently (and for longer periods of time) in the winter months when happiness-boosting UV light is in short supply. The at-home Rx? A blissful bath. German scientists say relaxing in a warm, steamy tub of water for as little as 20 minutes prompts the release of mood-steadying brain waves. And it can banish the blues and restore cheer more effectively than exercise can if you treat yourself to two baths weekly.
Also smart: Keeping your home at a comfy 72°F during the day can prevent blue moods (even if you drop the temperature at night when you’re sleeping), suggests a review of 20 studies in the journal Public Health. Being in a comfortably-warm space calms your nervous system, prompting it to release the happiness-boosting hormone dopamine.
Snuggly slippers lower your blood sugar
Keeping blood sugar steady is key to preventing type 2 diabetes and keeping your energy up. And Dutch scientists say keeping yourself warm on chilly evenings by donning slippers or wearing fuzzy pajamas can make blood glucose control soar in as little as one week. Keeping skin warm activates genes that heighten insulin sensitivity inside muscle and liver cells, helping them quickly soak up and burn blood glucose for fuel.
