As the winter season commences, many grapple with gauging their body's resilience to the chill and stand before their wardrobes, pondering between the bulkiest coat for warmth and lighter clothing to avoid sweating. If you resonate with this dilemma, here's a compilation of tips presented by researchers and physicians who've unraveled the secrets of staying cozy.
Do Not Shun the Cold
A report published by the University of North Carolina on the physics of warmth has professor Emil DenHartog of Biophysical Fabric Sciences at the Wilson College of Textiles confirming that we acclimate to any temperature over a set period. Consequently, we perceive the weather as hotter or colder than it is when the temperature significantly rises or drops for the first time.
The new temperature comes as a shock because the body was accustomed to the previous conditions. The good news is that our bodies easily adapt to the warmth or the cold after being exposed to them for a few hours every day over ten days.
Eschew the Heavy Coat
The British Heart Foundation advises you to create an even, insulating layer of warm air around your body to feel warm. However, this cannot be achieved by wearing a heavy coat over just a cotton shirt, as the coat alone would only provide a half-inch thick layer. Moreover, the warm air would cluster around your chest and back, leaving you feeling cold around the joints.
Moreover, a heavy coat increases trunk temperature with movement, so you might see someone wearing such a coat then unbuttoning it to dry off their sweat.
A report from "The Conversation" warns that sweat evaporation increases the body's heat loss rates.
Layering is Key
A report from the University of North Carolina explained the secret of layering clothes. To preserve body heat, you may first need an insulating layer on your skin, with a fabric that absorbs sweat.
Wool is the best choice for this base layer, as it soaks up sweat and circulates warm air between the wool fibers. Some people might prefer sports garments that absorb sweat, especially if they are sensitive to the direct feel of wool on their skin.
The succeeding layer should trap heat and here, wool is indispensable, or you could opt for a tightly woven soft fabric to form a warm air layer around your body, approximately an inch thick across your upper half.
For the waist and legs, wear an absorbent insulating layer, followed by wool trousers or heavy jeans.
Final Layer According to the Weather
The last clothing layer's importance doesn't lie in warming up but in preventing the escape of body heat, which can be achieved with a windproof and rainproof coat on rainy days, or a puffy or woolen coat in stable conditions.
A "Washington Post" report recommends that your coat should come with ventilation openings around the armpits for sweat evaporation, or you can choose coats that aren't heat insulators.
Wear Gloves
Blood flows throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen and also conveys heat from the muscles to the skin, making you feel warm. If you touch a cold object, your body redistributes heat to its core and vital organs, withdrawing it from the skin and extremities, resulting not just in cold hands but also in cold arms, legs, and cracked skin.
A report from "Live Science" cautions that these minute cracks in fingertips can evolve into fissures, potentially leading to infections.
Avoid Cotton Clothing
Cotton is ideal for summer clothes to help the body hydrate itself, but it's the worst choice in winter. The last thing you want is damp cotton against your skin, potentially requiring you to dry it with exposure to cold air, or trapping moisture on your skin, exacerbating sweat and odor issues.
A "Washington Post" report highlighted the best fabrics for winter clothes, including wool, polyester, polypropylene, silk, and advised nylon fabric for outer layers like hats and coats.
Eat Small Meals
Some may believe consuming large amounts of food aids in warming the body; however, sports nutritionist Nancy Clark pointed out the significance of small meals over large ones.
The digestion of light foods induces a temporary increase in body temperature by about 10% within 30 to 60 minutes after consumption. Hence, soldiers have a light meal before bed to remain warmer throughout the night.
A light evening meal also protects you from frequent nighttime urination—a phenomenon doctors refer to as "cold diuresis," which is a side effect of the cold and blood vessel constriction. It can be avoided by consuming a light meal before sleeping. Eating a heavy meal instead would fill the skin with blood as the body tries to dissipate excess heat, leading to sweating and subsequent cold sensations.
