Cold Weather Burns Calories You may have heard   of "brown fat," a type of fat found naturally in parts of the body that, when   triggered, can burn off other "white" fat. In a 2012 study, researchers found   that cold weather seemed to set the brown fat into motion, and that simply being   cold could cause significant calorie burn. The study, admittedly, was small   -- it only included six healthy men, to be exact. And experts caution that the   obesity epidemic is not likely to be solved by the creation of a brown-fat triggering   pill. But at least the idea might offer a little comfort when you find yourself   chilled to the bone.

Cold Weather Brings Us Closer It can be tempting   to spend the coldest mornings safely tucked under the covers; it's only natural   to want to avoid the most brutal temps. But during periods of such weather-induced   isolation, we tend to reach out to contact our closest friends and family on   the phone, and end up chatting with them for longer than usual, according to   a 2012 study.

Cold Weather Is Less Hospitable For Disease-Carrying   Bugs During the summer of 2012 -- when West Nile cases were climbing   -- much was made of the milder 2011-2012 winter and its effect on the disease-spreading   mosquito population. The pests thrive in milder climates, meaning they were   able to survive -- and breed -- all winter, just waiting to feast come spring.   Freezing or below-freezing temps might kill off some skeeters (and ticks), thereby   protecting you from the illnesses they are known to spread.

Cold Weather Brings Greater Appreciation Of Brighter   Days Week after week of balmy weather sounds pretty lovely right about   now, but there's evidence to suggest that it doesn't necessarily make you happy.   In fact, some research suggests that if the weather never changes, you start   taking that sunshine for granted. Shivering through the cold makes those warm   spring days seem even better when they finally come along, according to Psychology   Today.

Cold Weather Can Reduce Inflammation There's a   reason putting ice on an injury works. That drop in temperature reduces inflammation   in, say, a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. But the theory works on a much grander   scale, too -- cold temperatures can reduce inflammation and pain all over. In   fact, athletes and spa-goers even have a remedy of sorts available for muscle   recovery. A 2011 study found that, at extremely low temperatures, such treatments,   called cryotherapy, did more for athletes to recover from physical activity   than simply resting. Runners who were exposed to temperatures as low as -166   degrees F recovered from exercise faster than those who given other therapies   or told to rest, The Atlantic reported. At spas, cryotherapy chambers appear   much like steam rooms -- with, of course, the opposite effect. And while the   majority of us probably won't be taking a trip to the cold room, it certainly   beats summer swelling!