© Shutterstock

The benefits of being cold and wet -

Did you know that bad weather is good for your health? No, seriously! In fact, according to the experts, going out in the cold and wet is highly beneficial to our immunity and general health.

© Shutterstock

Walking in the rain -

Walking in the rain, for example, can be good for your health largely because of the improved air quality it offers.

© Shutterstock

Why you should welcome wet weather -

Wet weather brings with it raindrops that have fallen through the atmosphere, and absorbed thousands of microscopic aerosol particles while doing so, things like sulphates, soot, and dust. These and other pollutants are naturally removed from the air.

© Shutterstock

Rain is a natural coolant -

Rain can stop you overheating during physical activity, when jogging for example. It serves as a natural coolant so you're able to exercise for longer and faster.

© Shutterstock

Cold conditions burn more calories -

According to a study by Japanese scientists and posted by the National Library of Medicine, running in cold conditions causes energy demand to increase. Engaging in physical activity when it's cold and wet can therefore burn more calories and fat than if you were to do the same thing in warm, dry conditions.

© Shutterstock

The power of petrichor -

How good does rain smell? It's quite intoxicating, and there's a special name for this unique fragrance: petrichor.

© Shutterstock

What is petrichor? -

Petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. It's especially intense following a warm, dry period.

© Shutterstock

A pleasant fragrance -

This pleasant fragrance emerges from a combination of chemicals released from good bacteria that live in the soil, and oils released from certain plants. Even lightning plays a role, the bolts releasing an agreeable-smelling ozone mix after a thunderstorm.

© Shutterstock

Good for body and soul -

All these factors conspire to make the scent of rain truly appealing (calming, even). In fact, the petrichor scent soothes the mind and body.

© Shutterstock

Soaked in solitude -

Not everyone likes to walk in the rain. But therein lies another advantage of striding out in bad weather—the chance to enjoy some solitude.

© Shutterstock

Here's to a rainy day -

Braving rainfall means you'll very likely be walking on your own. A good downpour provides for some peaceful, quiet time to yourself.

© Shutterstock

Rain lowers stress levels -

Furthermore, rain can help clear the mind, helping you refocus on your thoughts and lower stress levels.

© Shutterstock

Walking in winter -

Living and working in a city environment can oftentimes be stressful and overwhelming. But cities are often at their most walkable in winter, when wind disperses pollution and rain washes the air of dirt, dust, and harmful microbes.

© Shutterstock

Rainfall disperses people -

And as previously outlined, rainfall can disperse people. Cities empty quickly during a downpour, which means you'll quite often have a usually busy sidewalk all to yourself.

© Shutterstock

The magic of mud -

Country walking in wet weather has its own unique benefits. And if it means traipsing through mud, so much the better!

© Shutterstock

Natural green space exposure -

Yep, even mud can boost your health. Mud is rich in mood-enhancing microbes. Again, it's all about natural green space exposure and the petrichor effect.

© Shutterstock

Beneficial to kids -

Kids benefit especially well by taking a muddy walk in the rain. Their immune systems receive a boost because the experience helps them develop more diverse microbiomes, according to a report posted by Science Advances.

© Shutterstock

Rain can improve sleep quality -

Bet you didn't know that a walk in bad weather can improve sleep quality. It's been scientifically proven that spending time in nature resets our circadian rhythm. This in turn improves sleep quality. But doing so in the rain has the added benefit of lowering stress while inhaling that super scent known as petrichor.

© Shutterstock

Rain as "white noise" -

Don't underestimate the healing benefits the sound of rain can bring. Rainfall serves as a kind of "white noise," which means it's consistent and uniform.

© Shutterstock

An audio blanket -

And like white noise, rain acts like an audio blanket, masking disruptive sounds in the environment. In fact, some people are known to sleep better when it's raining.

© Shutterstock

The colder, the better -

So much for wet weather. But how can exposure to cold be of any benefit? Well, you'd be surprised.

© Shutterstock

Exposure to cold -

Did you know that cold exposure activates brown fat and dopamine? But what does this mean, exactly?

© Shutterstock

The benefits of being cold -

Your body works harder when it's cold. And being exposed to cold environments activates brown fat in the body. Brown fat has an insatiable appetite for dangerous artery-clogging white fat.

© Shutterstock

Cold can generate heat -

Brown fat also burns off white fat to generate heat. A quick walk in nippy conditions with your coat undone at the collar and without a scarf can get the brown fat ball rolling.

© Shutterstock

Boosts dopamine levels -

Cold exposure also boosts dopamine release. But, again, what does this mean?

© Shutterstock

Cold weather releases dopamine levels -

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in pleasure, movement, motivation, and learning. Dopamine can be released for up to four hours during and after exposure to cold weather.

© Shutterstock

Walking in the rain at night -

If walking in the rain during the day is enough to put some people off, what about doing so at night? Is there any benefit to health in going for an evening stroll in wintery conditions? Well, actually, there is.

© Shutterstock

An evening stroll in wet weather -

Taking an after-supper stroll at any time of the year is always a good idea. Steeping out after a meal controls blood sugar levels and helps shunt food smoothly through the gut. But why do this in the rain after dark?

© Shutterstock

A dark, rainy night induces sleep -

Quite simply it's because dim evening light prompts our body to start making sleep-inducing melatonin. And for all the reasons already outlined, rainfall is a great leveler, not least because of its ability to calm us down.

Sources: (Verywell Health) (The Guardian) (National Library of Medicine) (BBC) (Psychologies) (Science Advances) (Sleep Cycle) 

See also: What would happen if it never rained again? 

© Shutterstock