Sounds miserable, right? Scientific research suggests otherwise. Cold water therapy has a long history as one of the easiest ways to improve mood, cognition, and physical appearance. It’s therapeutic use dates back as far as Ancient Greek civilization, and perhaps even further. So why put your body through the hell of cold showering? Here’s a list of the many benefits of cold showering.
1)Relieves Depression
Yes, research suggests that cold showering can reduce the symptoms of depression. Research at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine indicates that short cold showers may stimulate the brain’s “blue spot”– the brain’s primary source of noradrenaline — a chemical that could help mitigate depression.
2)Increased Cognition
Studies show that cold showering can increase alertness, perhaps related to the release of noradrenaline mentioned above. This makes cold showering perfect for waking your brain up in the morning, especially before a big day.
3)Increased Circulation
The fast heart rate and heavy breathing that result from cold showering help to improve your circulation, making for better cardiovascular health. This could also be another reason that people who take cold showers report higher levels of alertness: more circulation means more blood flow to the brain.
4)Increased Testosterone
Cold showers have been shown to have a measurable impact on increasing testosterone levels. The increased level of testosterone is retained not just during the shower, but throughout the day as well. This makes for a higher level of motivation throughout the day and much more intense workouts.
5)Boosted Immune System
A study done in 1993 by the Thrombosis Research Institute in England indicated that individuals who took daily cold showers saw an increase in the number of virus fighting white blood cells compared to individuals who took hot showers. Individuals were also found to have concentrations of plasma, T helper cells, and lymphocytes.
6)Healthier Hair and Skin
Hot water dries out hair and skin, resulting in itches and unhealthy hair. Cold showering eliminates this, keeping you looking and feeling better.
7)Burns Fat
Cold showering can increase the metabolism of fat by over 15 times, meaning that it can help you lose weight. If all other factors are kept constant, this could burn up to 9 pounds of fat in a year. While not as effective as working out or dieting, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to add cold showering to your daily weight loss regimen.
8)Faster Muscle Recovery
Athletes use ice baths to reduce the level of muscle soreness after an intensive workout. Cold showering uses the same principle, but to a much lesser extreme. Cold showering after a workout can reduce muscle fatigue and allow for more consecutive workouts.
Tips for Cold Showering:
1)It can be intimidating trying to step into a freezing cold shower. Try stepping in the shower when the water is lukewarm and gradually decreasing the temperature. This allows your body to adjust to the cold water, making for a more comfortable experience.
2)Control your breathing. It is the body’s natural reaction to hyperventilate when exposed to cold water. Try to fight this by taking long, deep breaths.
3)Try it after a workout. In addition to the benefits of muscle recovery, it can actually be desirable to take a cold shower after working up a sweat.
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