Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash
Research has shown that humans originated in and migrated out of Africa, a continent with a hot climate. Ideally, one would expect us to feel more comfortable and congregated around warm regions. But then, you can find humans all over the globe, regardless of the region’s climate.
Thanks to the body’s ability to acclimatize and the brain’s high intelligence, human beings can adapt to a wide range of environments. But the body’s efforts are only effective for the short term, and measures have to be taken for the long term.
This is where we explore the practices that helped humans adapt to cold regions. Areas with harsh winters and low temperatures require deliberate actions to be able to settle. As such, these practices are unique and have been successful in the long run.
Naturally, Africans have less familiarity with cold climates because they grew up on a warm continent. However, some of the practices in this article can help those in the diaspora better handle the cold.
Adjustments To Food And Clothing
Picture source – Freepik
When it comes to settling down anywhere, you must pay attention to food and clothing. The sort of food you eat and the way you dress are strongly subject to the environment you find yourself.
In the cases of cold regions, people have gravitated more towards food with high-fat content. The reason is that fat produces more heat and energy when the body burns it, making it useful in such conditions.
On the other hand, wearing thick clothes helps the body to conserve more heat, which is exactly what you want against the cold. This is why things like ear mufflers, head warmers, hoodies, cardigans, etc. are more prevalent among people living in cold regions.
Building Materials
Photo Credit: ID 3034470 @ 728jet | Dreamstime.com
When the goal is to conserve heat in your environment, you cannot underestimate the materials you use to build your houses. You would need something that can trap the heat you generate and not let it dissipate easily. In a nutshell, you want a material that has excellent insulating properties.
This is where wood (timber) comes into play. Wood is poor at conducting heat and using it to build a house ensures that the building will not lose heat as quickly as using a material like brick.
A quick survey of warm and cold regions/continents shows that brick is more popular in warmer areas. On the other hand, wood is prevalent in cold regions, thanks to its ability to retain heat.
Building Structure
Picture source – Outside
Speaking of buildings, I cannot but think of a tribe living in one of the coldest places on earth- The Inuits. This place has the coldest biome on earth, and you will find humans living here too.
The Inuits live mainly in unique structures called Igloos. Guess the building material? They use snow blocks cut out of compacted snow. But this presents an irony of how they conserve heat when they use such materials.
Well, the shape of Igloos traps heat indoors while also managing to remain solid without melting. Inuits even cook and make fire inside these structures and it remains intact.
Babies Napping Out In The Cold
Picture source – Business Insider
You probably have not heard about this practice but it is quite popular in Nordic countries. The people put their babies in secured prams and let them nap out in the open, especially in the snow. Don’t worry, the babies are well-dressed and insulated.
The practice exposes the babies to fresh air and it is believed to help increase their tolerance to the cold climate as they grow. It also strengthens their immune system and has become a common thing in relevant countries.
While some argue that it can be unsafe, the locals believe otherwise and they have enough proof to back their claims.
Regular Cold Plunges
Picture source – The Cold Plunge Store
This practice is more common in countries like Russia and is done to strengthen tolerance for cold. Although both adults and children take cold plunges, the water for the kids is not as cold as the ones for the adults.
In more rural areas, the locals make use of a nearby river. While this works just fine too, it can be unsafe for kids because they have lesser tolerance for cold compared to adults.
You might be tempted to compare this practice to taking a cold shower but there are simply not the same. Both the short and long-term benefits differ between these two practices.
To wrap it up, the next time you find yourself living in a cold region, remember that adjusting your diet and clothing will go a long way in helping you cope. Fatty food works best and avoid exposing your ears and neck.
