- A hidden cause of feeling cold in spring
- The genetic curse of coldness
- Two nutrients that could help you regulate your temperature
How was your Easter?
After the ‘stay at home’ order lifted we were finally able to travel to places for walks and recreation.
So I hope you got out and about.
There was only one snag (for me, at least)…
It wasn’t exactly the warmest long weekend.
Not in my neck of the woods, anyway.
Lara and I had decided to drive out for a coastal walk on Easter Monday, with a highly optimistic picnic packed in the boot of the car.
However, for most of the afternoon my teeth were chattering.
Yes, there was sun, occasionally, peeping through the clouds, which was lovely and warm.
But the wind? Argh! Freezing!
As soon as the clouds covered, the temperature changed dramatically.
And I have to say, I HATE the cold these days.
Just cannot tolerate it like I used to.
At about 30 years old I would have been out in a t-shirt at the slightest hint of sun.
But these days, I go out with spare jumpers, coats and hats right up until June, in case I feel the pinch.
How about you?
Do you feel the cold, even in spring? Maybe even in the summer too?
Well, I did a bit of reading into this subject and what I found might interest you.
Why you might feel the cold more than others
There are some factors that contribute to your chilly discomfort:
- The smaller you are, the more you feel it – apparently smaller people have fewer cells in the body that produce heat
- People with more body fat and muscle mass have more insulation and a higher resting metabolic rate, so feel less cold
- People who do more exercise, more often, not only get a warmer body during the activity, but better temperature regulation in general
However, I don’t tick the boxes with any of these factors as I am a large man with some amount of body fat (!) who takes long brisk walks with the dog almost every day.
So what else could it be?
The genetic curse of coldness
Interestingly, some experts now think a feeling of cold could be inherited.
A study of twins in 2012 found that the feeling of cold hands and feet has a genetic basis!
Now, I do remember that my dad would always make a beeline for any radiator or fire when he got into a house or pub.
So maybe if you’re one of those people who seems to feel colder than everyone else in the room, it’s something handed down via genes.
It’s also true that older people have a slower resting metabolic rate, which makes them feel the cold more.
I’m not getting any younger, that’s for sure, so maybe that’s all it is.
Thing is, in my reading for these letters, I keep finding that what we ‘assume’ to be the natural and inevitable symptoms of ageing aren’t always so.
As you’ll know, there are ways to prevent certain kinds of eyesight loss, avoid fatigue and stiffness, keep your brain focussed and your memory sharp.
One little known contributor to coldness (especially if you also feel tired) is an iron or B12 deficiency.
So make sure you’re topped up with that – mostly through diet, but also through a whole food-based supplement.
Together Health’s B-Complex contains vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin – the most absorbable kind. Click here for more details
Or try Together Health’s gentle iron supplement, which contains the goodness you find in fresh foods, like live enzymes and phytonutrients, amino acids, trace minerals and other bioactive co-factors. Click here for more details
Another lesser known tip for feeling warmer is to drink more water!
Dehydration limits all that lovely warm blood flow to your skin, which can make you feel cold even in warmer weather.
One more thing to check out – if you are constantly cold, with hair loss and weight gain, it could be a sign that your thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroxine, the hormone which regulates your metabolism.
Here’s another interesting observation…
Some people believe that in the modern western world, we are so used to being warm from our heated homes, shops and workplaces that we don’t get enough cold exposure.
So this is why we can feel so uncomfortable even on a mildly chilly April weekend.
And finally…
How Cold Can Help Your Brain
On the subject of my dad and the cold, I recommend you read this post on my website.
It’s about how people who regularly swim in very cold water have more of a protein which can reduce the risk of dementia.
The ‘cold shock’ protein (known as RBM3) could hold the key to halting brain tissue damage and even allowing that which is failing to repair.
You can read more here: Could a cold water shock help your brain? https://goodlifeletter.com/could-memories-be-frozen-for-all-time-by-doing-this/
As you can imagine, my cold-hating dad HATED this idea.
But maybe someone you know could benefit!