Benefits of Cold Showers

7 Reasons for a Cold Shower

INCREASE ALERTNESS

Deep breathing in response to our bodies shock helps to keep us warm, as it increases our overall oxygen intake. Thus, our heart rate will also increase releasing a rush of blood to our entire body. This gives us a natural dose of ENERGY for the day

REFINES HAIR & SKIN

One of the most natural ways to maintain your appearance is with cold showers. Hot water has the tendency to dry out our skin, so it’s best to use cold water to tighten cuticles and pores which will prevent them from getting clogged. Cold water can “seal” the pores in the skin and scalp too, preventing dirt from getting in.

‘Cold water temporarily tightens skin as it constricts blood flow, but it does not shrink pores’.

When it comes to hair care, cold showers can make hair appear shinier, stronger, and healthier by flattening hair follicles, and increasing their ability to grip the scalp

IMPROVES IMMUNITY AND CIRCULATION

Cold water can improve circulation by encouraging blood to surround our organs, which can help combat some problems of the skin and heart.

As the water hits the body, it’s ability to get blood circulating leads the arteries to more efficiently pump blood, therefore boosting overall heart health.

It can also lower blood pressure, clear blocked arteries, and improve our immune system

STIMULATE WEIGHT LOSS

Cold showers can aid weight loss in an unexpected way. The human body contains two types of fat tissue, white fat and brown fat.

White fat is accumulated when we consume more calories than our body needs to function, and we don’t burn these calories for energy. This body fat piles up at our waist, lower back, neck, and thighs, and is one we all struggle to eliminate.

Brown fat is the good fat, which generates heat to keep our bodies warm, and is activated when exposed to extreme cold. Thus, cold showers can promote brown fat activity.

A 2009 study found that exposure to extreme cold temps activated brown fat in 24 participants by a 15 fold increase, meaning someone could lose up to 9 pounds in a year if they kept this practise up

SPEEDS UP MUSCLE SORENESS AND RECOVERY

We’ve all seen athletes taking ice baths after training to reduce muscle soreness, but a quick cold shower after breaking a sweat can be just as effective, especially in relieving delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

EASES STRESS

Jumping into the shower without letting it heat up, or going into the ocean without slowly acclimatising to it, can help promote increasing tolerance to stress, and even disease.

A 1994 study found a drastic decrease in uric acid levels during exposure to stimulus. There was also an increase in glutathione an antioxidant that keeps all other antioxidants performing at their optimal levels

RELIEVES DEPRESSION

Due to the intense impact of cold receptors in the skin, which send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from the peripheral nerve endings to the brain. Thus, it produces an antidepressive effect, and boosts mood, making it a pick me up.

A 2008 study found that cold hydrotherapy has an analgesic effect, and does not appear to have noticeable side effects or cause dependence.

This treatment included one or two cold showers, 2- 3 mins long, followed by a 5 minute gradual adaptation to make the procedure less shocking.

It's time to take a duck to water, and try the benefits of COLD therapy

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