Roasting chestnuts by an open fire may have gone a bit out of fashion, but perhaps it’s time to bring this yuletide tradition back.
Sitting by a fire during the holidays – or any other time of the year – may offer unexpected health benefits. There is something peaceful about watching flames flicker just a few feet from your face, and your physical health might get a boost as well.
6 Benefits of Sitting Around a Fire
Here are several ways that sitting by a cozy fire might be good for you.
It increases your sense of well-being
There is something about sitting by a small fire that brings calm to our spirit. Some experts believe that early humans who gathered around a fire told stories and exchanged other information that might have helped them survive.
Thus, the good feelings we get from a fire might be hardwired into us thanks to our evolutionary history.
It promotes togetherness
Humans have been gathering together around fires for a long time. Many social ties have been strengthened around a campfire and couples have cemented their loving bond.
Put simply, crowding around a fire can be a lot of fun. What family hasn’t spent some joyous time together roasting marshmallows for s’mores?
It lowers your blood pressure
Christopher Lynn, an anthropologist at the University of Alabama, conducted a study in which 226 adults sat before a video of a fire. In some cases, the fire was silent. In other cases, the flames made a pleasant crackling sound.
Those who experienced the video with a little snap, crackle and pop saw their blood pressure drop by 5%. The longer they sat before the fire, the more relaxed they became.
It can make you more fit
Before you can enjoy a fire, you have to build it. Those who take this fire stuff seriously know the importance of keeping a pile of wood and kindling readily available.
Regularly chopping up logs and gathering other material for a fire keeps you active and fit.
A study by Ben Trumble, a behavior and economic researcher now at Arizona State University, also found that chopping trees offers a bigger increase of testosterone than competing in sports.
This surge in testosterone boosts the performance of muscle.
It gets you outside
Sitting by a fire gets you outside, which provides a host of health benefits.
If the sun is still out when the fire starts, it will hit cholesterol in your skin cells, triggering the process that results in vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D helps build stronger bones and fortifies your immune system.
Being outside also exposes you to fresh air, which helps raise oxygen levels in your body. Exposure to fresh air can also improve digestion.
It keeps you warm and helps you cook
It’s easy to overlook what might be the two most important health benefits of fire: Keeping you warm helping you cook meals.
Over the millennia, a good fire has kept countless people from freezing to death. Fire also has been used to cook food and boil water, and thus has been vital to human survival.
Tips for Building a Safe Fire
If you plan to build a fire – whether for health benefits or other reasons – it’s important to do so correctly and safely.
“Campfires need to be enjoyed with caution and care,” says Susan McKelvey, communications manager at the National Fire Protection Association.
The NFPA recommends building fires at least 25 feet away from any structure than can burn, including tents. Other things that can potentially burn – such as shrubs – also should be this far away from the fire area.
Remove dry leaves and sticks from the area where you plan to build the fire as well.
It is best to avoid building fires on windy days or times of dryness. Fires that burn in these conditions can quickly go out of control.
“A campfire left alone for even just a few moments can grow into a damaging fire, so you need to keep a close eye on it at all times,” McKelvey says.
When conditions are right for a fire, keep it small and never use gas or other flammable liquids to ignite the fire. Keep a hose or a bucket of water nearby in case you need it. Another good safety measure is to have plenty of sand and dirt – and a shovel – nearby.
Using a metal screen over a wood-burning fire can help prevent sparks from shooting out and starting something on fire or injuring someone.
If you have children, make sure they don’t wander too close to the fire. Also, keep matches, lighters and lighter fluid well-hidden and out of the reach of children.
Once you are done enjoying the fire, make sure you have put it out completely.
“Building a campfire away from overhanging low branches and extinguishing it completely before leaving the site are critical to safety,” McKelvey says.
Tips for Preventing Burns
Every year, countless people build fires and enjoy them without incident. But while fires can be beautiful and give our spirits a boost, it’s important to remember the potential for danger.
If you are near a fire and your clothes catch fire, the NFPA says you should immediately “stop, drop and roll.”
This means you drop the ground and cover your face with your hands. Then, roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is completely extinguished.
If the fire has burned you or someone else, cool the burns with cool water for between three and five minutes. Cover the burn area with a clean, dry cloth and seek medical attention promptly.
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