Cold weather makes down jackets and thick coats common on the streets."After drinking some alcohol, you'll feel warmer, protecting against the cold," many people say."The more you drink, the warmer you get; the more water you drink, the colder you get," is a long-standing saying.However, few realize that drinking alcohol in winter not only fails to warm up your body but can make you even colder and cause some health issues.

Why does it feel colder after drinking?

This happens because...

People often think that high-alcohol drinks make the body feel very warm immediately after consumption. In fact, alcohol mainly consists of alcohol and water, both of which have limited calorific value.

The sensation of warmth from alcohol comes from...

Alcohol is absorbed in the body, leading to vasodilation of blood vessels, especially those near the skin. This increases blood circulation, causing heat to be released faster to the surface of the body and making people feel warm for a short time.

Furthermore, alcohol can also numb the central nervous system, reducing sensitivity to external temperature.However, this warmth is only temporary because the loss of internal heat happens quickly. After a while, drinkers will feel much colder as their body loses more heat than it generates.This so-called "post-drinking coldness" can also increase the risk of catching a cold or frostbite, especially for elderly people who are less sensitive to temperature changes and can be damaged by alcohol consumption.Drinking alcohol to stay warm is not advisable. In winter, small amounts of alcohol may help with circulation and digestion but relying on it as a method of warmth is unwise.

According to studies, the number of bleeding disorders in winter is much higher than in summer, including strokes, gastric ulcers, and myocardial infarction.Alcohol can exacerbate these conditions' severity and likelihood of occurrence.

What should you eat to stay warm?For staying warm, two main factors are important: consuming nutrient-rich, high-calorie foods; and enhancing insulation through proper clothing and exercise.

There are many food options for winter warmth. Vitamin-rich foods like animal liver, carrots, pumpkins can help boost your body's resistance to cold.Whole grains and seeds also provide B vitamins, while fruits and vegetables supply vitamin C. Iron-rich foods such as liver, mutton, spinach, and egg yolks can also help keep you warm during winter.Such diseases like cerebral hemorrhage, gastric bleeding, and myocardial infarction are also more prevalent during this season.Alcohol stimulation can increase the likelihood of these diseases and their severity.

What should be eaten to keep warm?

In fact, when it comes to keeping warm and staying cozy, one should mainly consider two factors: on one hand, consuming nutrient-rich and high-calorie foods to help the body produce more heat;on the other hand, strengthening warmth preservation and physical exercise.The second aspect is self-evident, while for the first aspect, there are many options for warming-up foods.

For example, during winter, eating and drinking some vitamin-rich foods can help improve the body's resistance to cold, such as animal liver, carrots.Radicchiopumpkin2-Pumpkinand so on, which are rich in vitamin A; fresh grains, wholemeal products, etc., are rich in B vitamins; fresh vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamin C.Moreover, studies have shown that eating more iron-rich foods during winter can also help keep warm, such as animal liver, beef,mutton,spinach,yolk.