Why Some People are Always Cold and Others are Always Warm
Why am I always feeling cold?
Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall: No matter the season, you’re always feeling cold. So, why are some people always cold while everyone else is not?
You may have heard that people with certain medical conditions tend to be less tolerant of cold temperatures than others. So, there are high chances that you’re intolerant to cold temperatures if you suffer from anemia, anorexia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, Raynaud’s disease, disorders of the hypothalamus, fibromyalgia, or if you’re currently under chemotherapy.
But if you don’t currently have any of these conditions, why do you still feel so cold all the time?
Body temperature according to ancient wisdom
Today we’re sharing with you an additional approach from ancient wisdom that involves the elements: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. And let’s not forget about “Ether”, which is the space where these elements live in. We’re not exactly talking about Captain Planet (if you’re familiar with it), but Ayurveda, which is one of the world’s most ancient holistic healing systems and was first created around 5,000 years ago.
In Ayurveda, it is believed that we’re a combination of 3 different energies/forces, better known as “doshas”, and one is predominant in us. This can be related to our body’s constitution and other characteristics.
The three doshas are Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of these reacts to conditions in a different way and each needs different things in order to achieve balance. Besides physical traits, each dosha has different mental and emotional traits.
Vata constitutions tend to have more air and space elements within them, while Pittas have a lot of fire, and Kaphas earth and water. So, according to Ayurveda, Vatas will tend to be cold all the time, meanwhile, Pittas will feel warm most of the time. Kaphas will easily adapt to different climates, but don't like cold and humid weather very much.
Which one do you think you are?
Although we’re not 100% one dosha, as each of us has a unique combination of these three, in most cases, there is one that’s predominant in us. Take a look at all the variables to find out which one is more predominant in you:
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Vatta |
Pitta |
Kapha |
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Body constitution |
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Body type description |
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Elements |
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Characteristics |
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In balance |
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Out of balance |
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Body temperature |
COLD They usually prefer a warmer climate. |
WARM They usually prefer a cooler climate. |
COLD They can adapt to different climates, but don't like when it's cool and damp. |
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Reasons for temperature |
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Pitta is usually warm all year round, given the fire in their digestive system. |
Slow metabolism. |
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Helpful foods for these doshas |
Warm, cooked, moist foods. |
Cooler, raw, and fresh foods (like cucumber, or watermelon). |
Lighter, fresher foods. Little meat. Warm drinks. |
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Foods to avoid |
Foods with high amounts of air and space elements like raw vegetables. |
Foods with high amounts of fire and water (like hot peppers). |
Foods with high amounts of water and earth elements (for example dairy or heavy oily foods). |
LargeMain Source: Chopra Center
Love summer? You’re probably a Vatta (definitely not a Pitta).
Love winter? You’re probably a Pitta and probably love winter sports.
Finding Balance
Just like Captain Planet takes care of the weather conditions to help the Planet stay “in balance”, we need to take care of our bodies to achieve that balance. And an important condition for this is temperature (however, there are lots of other variables you need to take into account for a complete balance).
Tips for Vatta
If you're a Vata, your predominant elements are space and air, so you’re probably cold even during summer (you may not like the AC on high very much). So, always be prepared and take your ORORO heated vest or hoodie with you all year-round (especially if you’re going to be around a Pitta).
During wintertime, besides opting for warm foods and wearing warm clothes, you need additional extra heat. As you may probably suffer from cold feet and cold hands, it will be helpful to use some heated socks to protect your feet, or heated mittens to protect your hands. And always wear your favorite heated vest, hoodie, jacket, or parka!
Tips for Pitta
Because one of your main elements is fire, you don't like summer very much. Autumn is a good season for you because it allows you to release some excess heat, without losing too much. But during winter months you need to take care and not get too cold.
Although Pittas love cold climate and it helps them calm down, Pukka’s health guide has some tips for this dosha: “In winter months, care needs to be taken not to completely extinguish your inner fire, so it’s important to keep a little heat circulating (...) Remember, that you want to help the body release excess heat without causing it to become too cold.”
So even if you love being outside when it’s freezing, you still need to take care and stay in balance. Don’t forget to take your Heated Vest everywhere you go.
Tips for Kapha
To increase your energy levels, avoid eating heavy meals, and opt for lighter ones. And when it comes to dressing up you’ll absolutely find an ORORO heated jacket or ORORO heated fleece jacket pretty helpful during winter days. You'll love these during spring and fall too!
With ORORO you get to choose your own temperature
So, if your significant other is a Pitta and you’re a Vatta, you’ve probably come across some discussions about the air conditioner during summer or the heater during winter. But there’s nothing to worry about because with ORORO each gets to choose its own temperature!
If you’re always cold, you can use your heated vest or heated jacket even during summer. And during wintertime, each gets to choose between low, medium, or high heating levels.
So, now that we have this information, let’s remember that we’re all different and do our best to understand the other dosha types. Although we’re not the same, we can still challenge the climate together!
If you need more help to identify your dosha type, you can take an online quiz:
You may also like:
9 ways to protect yourself in cold temperatures
Use information at your own risk: The information presented is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice. The information and suggestions should be discussed with a professional. You are responsible for independently verifying the information if you intend to rely upon or use it in any way. You use all information at your own risk.
