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WarmHearts, Hands

T h e re ’s no go od reason you can have o n ly one o r th e o th e r this w in te r.

by KATHLEEN PARRISH

The old adage “cold hands, warm

heart” has long been used to

express a person’s capacity for

affection, but it is also an accurate

description of the way your body

works in cold weather.

As your body cools, it decreases

blood flow to its outer portions,

such as hands, feet, ears, and nose.

“The body sacrifices extremities to

keep vital organs alive,” says Peter

Kummerfeldt, a wilderness survival

expert and owner and head

instructor of Outdoor Safe, Inc.,

based in Colorado Springs,

Colorado. But that doesn’t mean

your fingers and toes have to go

r

down without a fight.

The key to toasty digits is

keeping the entire body warm.

Gordon Giesbrecht, a professor of

thermophysiology (yes, really) at

the University of Manitoba,

recommends wearing several

layers, including one against your

skin to wick away moisture. That’s

to prevent the buildup of sweat,

which compromises the insulation

of certain fabrics and sucks heat

from your body.

Cong underwear made of

polypropylene or wool is your best

choice, he says. Cotton, on the

other hand, absorbs and holds

sweat and water.

continued on page 226

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS DECEMBER 2009 2 2 5