Cold Is Good. Really

Working out at any temperature is good, but working out when it’s cold outside (or inside) is better. That, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, is the opinion of Christopher Minson, a physiology professor at the University of Oregon, who studies the body’s response to extreme environments and works with professional and Olympic athletes and sports teams. How exactly does that work? Minson explains that when our metabolic rate increases, our hearts work harder, blood vessels constrict, and our bodies have to work harder, just as they do when we exercise. Wait, there’s more. You can actually train for cold. Minson recommends his personal regimen, which includes a year of daily “cold shower challenges,” starting with 15 seconds of cold water daily the first week and increasing the time incrementally in subsequent weeks. Intrigued? Read the whole regimen here. And have fun.