by Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy
Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixabay
Are you fed up with the rain? Have you been stuck in the house and unable to go out for a walk? We’ve just had the wettest 18 months since Met Office records began in 1836!
It may surprise you to know that walking in the rain actually has health benefits. Take a look at the list below.
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Rain cleans the air
Rain strips pollution from the air. Atmospheric pollution is one of the greatest risks to human health. Rainfall has been found to reduce the amount of particulate matter in the air by up to 30%. These effects are also magnified by the wind.
The term particulate matter means anything in the air that is not a gas. It includes organic substances such as smoke, soot, soil and dust, as well as inorganic materials such as ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate, which come from fertilisers, and sodium chloride, from seawater.
Each raindrop attracts large numbers of these tiny aerosol particles, clearing the air and improving the quality of the air we breathe.
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Decreases stress and inflammation
You may have noticed the pleasant earthy smell of rain on dry soil. This is due to the Petrichor effect. When water hits dry earth it causes the bacteria Streptomyces to produce a compound called geosmin. Humans are very sensitive to geosmin even in very small quantities.
Geosmin may have a role in alleviating stress and calming anxiety. In a 2022 horticultural study, the group handling soil containing Streptomyces had higher levels of the happy hormone, serotonin, and lower levels of the inflammatory marker, C- Reactive Protein (CRP). The treatment group was also noted to have increased alpha-band oscillatory activity in the occipital lobe. The significance of this is not known but it may correlate with cognitive function.
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Boosts the immune response
Since the 1980s, the Japanese have developed the custom of forest bathing. They recognised the benefits of walking in the woods and hugging trees.
Trees are known to produce chemicals called phytoncides which boost the human immune system. Studies have shown that when humans inhale these substances, the level of natural killer (NK) cells in the bloodstream is elevated. NK cells are white blood cells – lymphocytes – which kill cells infected with bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, and cancer cells. Just one day of forest walking raises the amount of NK cells by 40%. The phytoncides are still there – rain, hail or shine.
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Burns more calories
Have you noticed that you tend to walk or run faster in the rain – probably as you want to get home more quickly! This means you burn more calories walking or running in the rain.
In a 2015 sports study, a group of men were asked to run in a climatic chamber in a simulated rain or no rain environment. Running in the rain led to a significantly higher level of adrenaline and lactate than was found in those who ran without rain, implying the rain group had worked their muscles harder.
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You feel better
Many people feel a positive mood change from walking in the rain. Taking notice of the wet earth and nature around you can help shift your perspective on life.
Walking boosts levels of endorphins – substances that give the brain a natural high – whether you walk in the sun or the rain. Endorphins are believed to elevate mood, reduce pain, lower stress and improve your sense of well-being.
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Negative ions
Air ions are electrically charged molecules. A negative ion is an ion that has gained an electron, whereas a positive ion is an ion that has lost one. Rainfall tends to generate negative ions.
Research has shown negative ions are good for human health. They appear to increase the flow of oxygen to the brain and make you feel more alert and less drowsy. One in three of us is extra sensitive to negative ions. This is you if you are someone who feels instantly better when you throw open the window and breathe in fresh air.
Final thoughts
Walking in the rain doesn’t seem appealing, but when you think about it, there are some additional health benefits from walking when it’s dry. Walking in the rain can lift our spirits, calm anxiety and boost our immune system – walking in the rain is doing us good. We shouldn’t let the rain stop us from getting our 10,000 steps a day. Regular exercise is vital for good human health.
Here’s a phrase I keep remembering – ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothes!’ So why not dig out your raincoat, put up the hood and get out, even in the rain? Getting a bit wet never hurts anyone.
- Where could you walk today – despite the rain?