Not only does it burn calories, the benefits of snow sports are beyond your imagination

On January 12, the State General Administration of Sport released the ""Driving 300 Million People to Participate in Ice and Snow Sports" Statistical Survey Report" shows that China has achieved the goal of "driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports", and the number of participants in ice and snow sports in the country has reached 346 million.

What are the unexpected benefits of snow sports compared to summer sports that we know better?

"The ambient temperature of outdoor ice and snow sports is usually around minus 20 degrees Celsius, which is quite different from the indoor temperature, and the human body's tolerance to low temperatures will be improved." Yang Huaqing, chief physician of the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center of Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, said, "The load of ice and snow sports is higher, which can better enhance physical fitness and improve cold resistance and disease prevention than summer sports." ”

As the saying goes: "Move in winter, less sickness; lazy in winter, drink more medicine and a bowl." "This is exactly what ice and snow sports can do to enhance our ability to stress our environment." Cao Chunmei, associate professor of sports at Tsinghua University, introduced that the transition from a warm environment to a cold environment will stimulate the cerebral cortex, resulting in endocrine and autonomic nerve adjustments, and this holistic stimulation is very effective for the prevention of colds and other diseases.

"Moreover, cold weather will prompt blood vessels to contract and expand to maintain body temperature stability, which requires the mobilization of blood throughout the body to maintain the balance of the entire body's internal and external environment." Yang Huaqing said that ice and snow sports can increase blood circulation, improve cardiovascular function, and prevent many cardiovascular diseases. Nervous system function is also enhanced, and brain function is improved under the metabolism.

The enhancement of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular function is only one aspect, and ice and snow exercise is also of great benefit to the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

"Under the stimulus of the cold, the pressure on the chest increases, the breathing becomes deep and strong, and the elasticity of the lung tissue is strengthened, the respiratory muscles are exercised, and the breathing function is improved." Yang Huaqing introduced that with the large rise and fall of the diaphragm in the respiratory muscle, the blood circulation of the digestive system will also be strengthened, driving gastrointestinal peristalsis to prevent diseases such as gastric prolapse, gastritis and pancreatitis.

People may not understand that snow sports can also be "beautiful"!

Yang Huaqing told reporters that cold weather promotes skin vasoconstriction, increases skin blood circulation, and allows the skin to get full nutrition, "which can promote the cleanliness and beauty of the skin, so that the skin of athletes is elastic and shiny."

"Studies have shown that the energy consumption of snow sports increases by 3% to 7% at the same amount and intensity of exercise. It can be seen that ice and snow sports are a very effective fat loss exercise. Cao Chunmei said.

For people of different ages, the benefits are not the same. "Teenagers often participate in ice and snow sports to promote growth and development, reduce the risk of suffering from various diseases in adulthood; for middle-aged and elderly people, appropriate participation in ice and snow sports can delay the aging process and reduce the probability of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases." Yang Huaqing added.

Source: Guangming Network