Acclimating to winter: Training to withstand the cold

If you can't handle the cold temperatures that are soon to arrive with winter, you might want to try training your tolerances ahead of the season.

It may sound counterintuitive but cold helps against constant cold. If the cold receptors on the skin are exposed to low temperatures more often, the body can withstand more cold in the long run.

This threshold can be trained. One easy way to do this is to roll up your trouser legs over your ankles in the fresh air. The exposed parts of your body will help you get used to the change between cold and warm.

It also helps if you don't reach straight for a jumper at the first chill. Dress in as little as is comfortable to maintain your body temperature rather than adding more layers than necessary.

Other easy ways to build tolerance is to switch to cold showers, by slowly lowering the temperature daily, or to gradually reduce the thermostat at home which can also save on energy.

Not only can these measures help build your resistance to chillier temperatures, but some could even have health benefits.

Cold showers can help strengthen the body's defenses. The cold stimulus increases the number of leukocytes in the blood, which protects us from infections.

The cold water also promotes blood circulation and the release of endorphins which lifts our moods while also stabilizing our circulatory system.

Astronomical winter begins this Wednesday, prepare for the day whatever the weather by checking the WeatherRadar before leaving the door!