Feeling chilly? Where you are in your cycle could be why

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Feeling chilly? Where you are in your cycle could be why

 

Are there days when you huddle in a sweater and fingerless gloves at your home or office because you’re convinced someone set the thermostat to arctic blast? Or wonder how folks can walk around in shorts and t-shirts outdoors when you’ve got four layers on and still feel your teeth chattering?

Where you are in your monthly cycle could be the reason you feel chillier than folks around you who think the climate is just fine.

That’s according to numerous studies (such as this and this) that show during the second half of your cycle (spanning the day after ovulation through the day before your next period), you feel colder than during the first half of your cycle (spanning the first day of your period through ovulation).

Why? Blame progesterone. Throughout this cycle phase, this hormone is at higher levels–and this triggers a small increase in your body’s core temperature that, in turn, makes you more sensitive to even a slight chill.

The takeaway: When the second half of your cycle rolls around, be prepared to feel colder, so dress for warmth, dodge a/c air vents and skip the ice bath.

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