It is said that our body’s metabolism works best when the temperature is 36~37℃, which is known as the optimal temperature. In particular, it can be said that the constant body temperature is closely related to the immune system, which acts as a shield for our body. When the actual body temperature drops by 1℃, the immune system decreases by 30%, and the metabolic rate also decreases by 12%. The lowered immunity and lowered metabolism make it impossible to smoothly operate the heat action that repels pathogens and viruses that infiltrate from the outside, increasing the risk of various infectious diseases and chronic diseases. In addition, it causes problems with normal digestion and causes various physical abnormalities such as irregular menstruation and cold hands, feet, etc., increasing the possibility of developing various related diseases. This drop in body temperature is especially common in the cold winter, when the temperature drops sharply. In winter, the body constricts blood vessels to prevent heat loss in the body. This action causes an increase in blood pressure, which increases the risk of vascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as related complications and cold diseases. . In particular, the elderly and the elderly, who have weaker muscle strength and lower metabolic rate than the younger age group, may be at greater risk from such a drop in body temperature. . Now, let’s take a look at some of the various methods that will help you maintain your body temperature.
Different ways to help maintain body temperature
1. Wear cold protection such as gloves and a scarf
When exposed to low temperatures, such as the neck, hands, feet, ears, and nose, which are sensitive areas of the cold, it can cause a large heat loss and cause a decrease in body temperature. Therefore, it is said that wearing a scarf, gloves, earplugs, a mask, and a hat can help maintain proper body temperature. In particular, in the case of gloves, they not only enhance the exercise effect while walking, but also help prevent falls that occur on slippery surfaces such as icy roads and snowy roads.
And in the cold winter, when body temperature tends to drop, people often wear thick clothes to keep their body warm. It is said that if you wear thick clothes that are hot enough, you will sweat a lot, and this sweating may cause excessive evaporation and conduction symptoms, which can cause a decrease in body temperature. Therefore, it is recommended to wear several thin clothes and adjust them according to the changing temperature. However, it is recommended that you choose loose-fitting clothes because they can impair blood flow.
2. Half bath
Half-body bathing, a bathing method in which only the lower body is immersed in warm water, is also known to help maintain an appropriate body temperature. The lower body has a relatively low body temperature compared to the upper body. When you take a half-bath, it warms the lower body with a low temperature and acts as a convection effect that helps the upper and lower body to circulate the blood flow. As a result, it works to balance the imbalanced body temperature, helping to maintain an appropriate body temperature. When taking a half-bath, it is said that it is a good way to do it for about 20-30 minutes at a temperature of 38-40℃, which is a little higher than body temperature. However, if you do it for too long, it can cause excessive sweating and break the metabolic balance, so it is recommended to do it for an appropriate amount of time. Also, keep in mind that soaking your feet in warm water helps maintain body temperature.
3. Steady exercise
In order to maintain a proper body temperature, it is also helpful to do aerobic exercise and strength training regularly. It is said that it is good to develop muscle strength through regular exercise because the increased muscle strength through these exercises directly affects the heat effect that prevents harmful bacteria from penetrating into the body. Also, in the cold winter, it is often difficult to exercise outdoors due to weather conditions such as cold waves, so it is a good way to do moderate stretching and bare-handed gymnastics indoors. Such stretching not only helps maintain body temperature by helping the metabolism work smoothly, but also improves the flexibility of the joints, thereby reducing the risk of fractures that occur frequently in winter. Also, when you exercise outdoors in a very cold temperature, your body temperature will drop sharply when the sweat discharged is cooled.
4. Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep also plays an important role in helping you maintain a proper body temperature. It is very important to get adequate sleep because the autonomic nervous system that regulates body temperature is stabilized during the process of sleeping and the metabolism is smooth. In addition, it is very important to create a comfortable and stable sleep environment to help you get a good night’s sleep, because even if you sleep for a sufficient amount of time, the quality of sleep, such as having trouble sleeping or waking up frequently, can cause problems with your metabolism. This applies to management practices.
5. Properly adjust the room temperature
Proper indoor temperature control is also very important in maintaining proper body temperature. In addition, there are many cases of taking off long clothes indoors. Even indoors, the larger the exposure range of the skin, the more easily the body temperature drops, so it is recommended to wear long clothes. In particular, maintaining a high indoor temperature in preparation for the cold outside temperature causes a decrease in humidity and increases the risk of exposure to various respiratory diseases, so it is very important to properly control the indoor humidity.
6. Balanced nutrition
A balanced intake of essential nutrients that the body needs also plays an important role in helping to maintain a proper body temperature. It can be said that it is important to consistently consume foods rich in high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals. In addition, it is also helpful to consume foods that are excellent for promoting blood circulation and metabolism. Ginger, cinnamon, garlic, onion, ginseng, radish, leek, pumpkin, nuts, and other foods help increase body temperature and are said to help increase metabolism.
Also, drinking plenty of water is a good way to maintain a proper body temperature. Sufficient water intake not only maintains the homeostasis of body temperature, but also protects the respiratory tract, such as the bronchial tubes, and has an excellent diuretic effect to help the discharge of accumulated waste products in the body. When drinking water, it is said that drinking warm water rather than cold water or drinking ginger, cinnamon, and jujube in the form of tea has a beneficial effect in warming the body and at the same time helping to maintain core body temperature.
