The cold winter months are also an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to show themselves. However, due to the cold weather, there are certain risks associated with outdoor sports in winter. As an experienced veteran Chinese medicine practitioner, I will combine the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, quote ancient and modern famous prescriptions, and share some popular science knowledge about the correct methods of winter outdoor sports, so as to help you protect your health in winter outdoor sports.
First of all, it is very important to prepare for outdoor sports in winter. In cold weather, our bodies need more energy to maintain body temperature and provide the energy needed for exercise. Therefore, before going out, be sure to ensure adequate caloric intake, and choose to eat some foods with higher fat content, such as nuts, milk, eggs, etc., which can provide us with abundant energy and enhance the ability to resist cold.
In outdoor sports, it is also very important to maintain the proper intensity and duration of your workouts. Cold weather can increase the burden on our body, therefore, we should choose the right exercise program and intensity according to our physical condition. For people who are new to outdoor sports, you can choose some low-intensity activities, such as walking, light jogging, etc., to gradually adapt to the cold environment. For athletes with certain experience, you can do some moderate amount of high-intensity training, such as skiing, curling, etc., but be careful not to be overly tired to avoid causing injury to the body.
Protecting your hands and feet is also key in winter outdoor sports. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the hands and feet are the peripheral parts of the human body away from the heart, which are more susceptible to cold weather in cold weather. Therefore, in outdoor sports, it is necessary to take measures to keep your hands and feet warm. You can choose to wear sports gloves and socks with good breathability and heat preservation effect to reduce the impact of cold on your hands and feet. In addition, you can also apply some traditional Chinese medicine ointments before going out, such as fried angelica with osmanthus and mugwort leaves, these Chinese herbs have the effect of warming the sun and warding away cold, which can help us keep our hands and feet warm.
In winter outdoor sports, reasonable rest is also crucial. In cold weather, the burden on our cardiovascular system increases, and the body's resistance will also decrease. Therefore, during exercise, we should pay attention to stopping and resting at the right time to allow the body time to adjust and recover. In addition, according to your physical condition, you should arrange the time and frequency of exercise reasonably, and do not overwork, so as not to have an adverse impact on your body.
After outdoor exercise, we should also take care to protect and nourish the body. Cold weather can easily lead to problems such as dryness and poor blood circulation. Therefore, you can choose some Chinese herbal soaking foot baths, such as Chuanxiong, safflower, etc., these Chinese herbs can promote blood circulation and relieve fatigue. In addition, you can also use some nourishing skin care products, such as aloe vera gel, coptis cream, etc., these products can effectively protect** and reduce the damage of cold to **.
To sum up, winter outdoor sports are an opportunity to exercise and show yourself, but we also need to pay attention to the right exercise methods and protective measures. Proper diet and rest, appropriate intensity and duration of exercise, as well as good warmth and care measures are all key to keeping us healthy during winter outdoor sports. While enjoying outdoor sports in winter, you should also pay attention to your body's signals at all times, and seek medical attention in time if you feel unwell to ensure your safety and health.
Health References:
1.Li Xiuhe, Wang Yiren, Chen Jie, et al. Research progress on frostbite hazards and protection of outdoor sports in winter in cold environment[J].Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine, 2017, 36(1): 11-17