5 Reasons Why You Should Stay Active This Winter

Winter is just around the corner. We all know what this means: shorter days, lots of hot coffee, and a cozy warm bed—all excellent reasons to sit back, relax, and skip the gym.

However, working out during the colder months can be good for your general health. Exercise helps build a body you’ll feel more confident in when it’s time to hit the beach. What’s more, it’s a great way to reduce chronic pain!

Here, the health professionals at Kilian Upper Cervical Chiropractors discuss the top five benefits of staying active during the winter season.

A good workout releases de-stressing brain chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin which can help to lower anxiety and depression. Setting aside 45 minutes a day for exercise can completely change your mental outlook, from improving your self-esteem to giving you a new sense of confidence.

In fact, research shows that exercise can also help prevent SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a bout of low energy which accompanies a change in season. 

Regular exercise fortifies your immune system, allowing it to fight off illness. Moving gets your blood circulating, enabling immune cells to circulate more quickly throughout your body. This in turn assists them in seeking and destroying disease-causing organisms. Remember, though, this surge only lasts a few hours—exactly why you should exercise regularly!

Moderate aerobic activity can furthermore provide numerous physical health benefits, including preventing major chronic heart diseases, joint pains, and obesity. In particular, studies show exercise is effective at lowering blood pressure and preventing heart attacks. 

Lower back pain is all too common. While you might want to lie down to rest your back, exercising is the better solution. Lower back exercises help to strengthen the muscles in the back, stomach, and legs. They also support your spine and relieve back discomfort. 

An exercise regimen that stretches and strengthens your back and core muscles can help you recover from a bout of acute back pain and avoid a recurrence.

Remember: before beginning any back pain workout program, always consult a chiropractor. Some activities may be contraindicated or even hazardous depending on the cause and severity of your pain.

What’s more, the variety of therapy choices available can be overwhelming. A chiropractor can help you choose the one best suited to your personal needs. 

Exercising helps many individuals sleep better. Moderate-to-vigorous exercise in particular can improve adult sleep quality by reducing sleep onset; i.e., the time it takes to fall asleep. By keeping your weight in check, you’re also reducing your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Physical activity can furthermore help minimize daytime sleepiness and in some instances the requirement for sleeping pills.

Winter is commonly referred to as the "weight gain" season for a reason—the average person gains up to 4 kg during these months! It’s all too easy to turn to our favourite comfort foods during this holiday season.

Staying active can counterbalance the excess sugar and calories you will inevitably consume as the temperature continues to fall. It’s a great way to enter the new year without any diet-related regrets!

Whatever the season, the benefits of exercise are too important to overlook. Reaching out to a chiropractor can be a great way to develop a proper exercise plan suited to your needs. 

Kilian Chiropractic is happy to help patients in Aldergrove, BC, achieve pain relief and the level of wellness they’ve always wanted. Get in touch with us today via the contact form on our website or by calling (604) 856-7781.