Thirsty (for knowledge) Thursday: Take a Walk in 'Bad' Weather

Last month, I came across this article that was about how being outside during "bad" weather can be good for your immune system. They cited studies and sources that wrote about how getting outside for a walk on wet, windy, and/or cold days can be helpful.

Cities are often at their most walkable in the winter, when wind disperses pollution, and rain washes the air of dirt and germs. A 2021 study found that the best days to avoid catching highly contagious strains of Covid were windy days, when germs and bacteria were instantly blown away. Cities empty quickly in the rain – meaning we can pick up our pace and stride along streets usually thronging with people.

They also noted that more empty streets are more conducive to practicing backwards walking, which is something I've been hearing more and more about lately:

[...] Walking backwards also improves our balance and stability. Normally we lean slightly forward when we walk but, in reverse, our spine is nudged into alignment and our core has to work harder to keep us stable. Another study found that 10 minutes of backwards walking four times a week reduced lower back pain after a mere three weeks. At the same time, we strengthen our knee joints and quadriceps – which means an improved gait and fewer aches and pains. A wide, flat, empty pavement is the ideal place to practise reverse walking.

If you're not in the city, a downpour is a good time to walk as plants, trees, and soil to release sweet-smelling compounds. And the article goes on to note that "studies suggest that inhaling these compounds improves our mood, while the abundance of negative air ions – created as water and air molecules collide making a molecule with an extra charge – can improve respiratory health and immunity." An Austrian scientist noted that people who walked in heavily ionised air had higher levels of a vital antibody located in the mucosal lining of the mouth, nose, and gut.

Muddy days are also good days to get out! Mud is rich in mood-enhancing microbes:

Australian researchers found that mice exposed to soil had more diverse microbiomes, a finding mirrored by a Finnish study in which the gut and skin of children playing in plastic-and-concrete playgrounds were compared to those of children whose playground had been rebuilt using a tract of forest floor. In as little as four weeks, the children playing on forest floor had developed more diverse microbiomes. More importantly, the researchers found “parallel changes in the children’s immune systems”, with the muddy children showing greater immunity and fewer coughs and colds for months afterwards. Mud can be slippery, so use walking poles for stability. As you prod at the earth, you’ll also be releasing beneficial bacteria from the soil.

Cold days are also excellent for getting outside, and I'm happy to hear this - my 11.7 mile run on Monday morning was bare-legged at 25 degrees. Apparently, cold activates "brown fat" which helps to dispurse dangerous artery-clogging white fat.

Brown fat is a more effective fat burner than anything else, which explains why thin people often carry generous supplies. And it’s activated by cold. Studies have found that Nordic construction workers and those who go bare-legged in winter have impressively rich layers of brown fat. You can shiver through a Wim Hof ice bath or you can go for a nippy walk with your coat undone at the collar and your scarf unwrapped. Exercise and caffeine also spur production of brown fat, so take a coffee.

And if you're lamenting that it's getting too dark this time of year... well that can be good for you as well. The article notes that it's great to get out for a brief "after dinner" stroll, and that "the dim evening light prompts our body to start making sleep-inducing melatonin."

So their bottom line is to put on the right gear and to make sure that you're still getting outside - these less-than-perfect conditions can be good for you!

For more "Thirsty Thursday" posts that highlight workouts, body science, and all kinds of interesting information, CLICK HERE. As always, back with some "Friday Funnies" tomorrow.