The Benefits of Cold Showers and Why You Should Switch Now
By Sawyer G.
Many people have heard of cold showers and the supposed benefits of submitting yourself to freezing torture every day. But have you ever looked into cold showers, and seen the dozens of health and mental benefits? Taking cold showers is vastly better for physical and psychological health than hot showers and should become more widespread.
The cold water from showers shocks the body and this shock stimulates a higher respiratory rate, increased alertness, and better metabolism. medicalnewstoday.com
The benefits of cold showers include increased endorphins, lower chances of depression, improved metabolism, improved circulation, better resistance to common illnesses, reduced pain, an elevated respiratory rate, increased alertness, an increased ability to wake up in the morning, faster physical recovery, reduced muscle soreness, healthier hair and scalp, healthier skin, and a boosted overall mood.
Most people prefer hot showers because they are more enjoyable, and hot showers also have a number of benefits. However, when it comes to physical and mental health, cold showers prove much better for you than hot showers.
Cold showers can increase the number of endorphins someone has as well as serve as a type of antidepressant. The human body’s many cold receptors, and during cold showers, these receptors are activated quickly and end up sending overwhelming amounts of electrical impulses to the brain, which results in insane levels of stimulation in the nerves in the brain, leading to many endorphins being released and an overall feel-good effect. This leads to an improved mood and reduced chances of depression. Additionally, a clinical trial found that taking a cold shower for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 days a week can help relieve symptoms of depression.
Cold showers can also improve metabolism because while in these cold conditions, the body has to work harder to maintain a stable body temperature. This improves the metabolism and can help with weight loss, though it shouldn’t be relied on to lose weight. Your circulatory system can also be improved by taking cold showers for a similar reason to the metabolism improvements as the body must work harder to pump blood and in turn becomes stronger.
Cold showers can also improve the ability to fight common illnesses because the cold waters shocks and stimulates the blood cells designed to fight off infection (called leukocytes). According to the National Libary of Medicine (NLM) - The United States national database of medical information - a study conducted in the Netherlands called the “cool challenge” found that people who switched to cold showers for 90 days called in sick from work 29% less than people who took hot showers. So obviously, this stimulation of blood cells has a noticeable effect on the body’s ability to fight common illnesses.
There is also evidence that cold showers can have anesthetic-like effects on the body, meaning pain relief. An article written in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences found that exposure to cold water can cause constriction of the blood vessels, which can help reduce swelling and edema, which cause pain. The cold can also slow the speed by which nerve signals conduct pain impulses. And while cold showers shouldn’t be solely relied on as anesthesia, they can reduce general pain and discomfort.
Increased alertness can also be a result of the shock brought on by cold showers because it stimulates nerves and the brain, and this combined with a higher respiratory rate (touched on earlier) can make it easier to wake up in the morning as an additional result of cold showers.
Because of the regenerative properties of the cold water and the stimulation of the cells and nerves, cold showers can support muscular relaxation, reduce muscle soreness, and improve the ability of your muscles to repair themselves after high exertion.
Taking just a few minutes long cold shower, 2-3 days a week is enough to stimulate the effects and benefits of cold showers mentioned in this article healthline.com
Cold showers can also create healthier skin and hair; wellness expert, Dr. Jacqueline Schaffer, says that the cold water we are exposed to constricts the blood flow just enough to support a healthy glow to the skin. Additionally, an article published on the website, NaturallyCurly.com, said that taking cold showers closes and strengthens the hair cuticles, supporting healthier and stronger hair.
I have been personally taking cold showers for a long time and I have seen and felt many of these benefits, it stimulates a healthier body and a more productive lifestyle. While many people are afraid to make the switch because hot showers are more enjoyable at the moment, and the cold water can be uncomfortable, the benefits outway the discomforts. Also, after a while of taking cold showers, your body adapts and it becomes bearable and even enjoyable.
A way to switch from hot showers to cold showers that I used and found to be ideal was to take your normal hot shower for four days but at the end of each shower, put the temperature to full cold and stand under the water for 1 minute. After four days, it begins to be bearable and you can choose the extend the time to 3 minutes for two days or just switch to an entirely cold shower on the fifth day. I found it incredibly useful and I was able to switch to cold showers by the fifth day, and by the sixth day (the second day of entirely cold showers), it didn’t even phase me or cause any discomfort. Since then, I have been taking cold showers and I have seen the multitude of benefits.
In conclusion, there is a multitude of health and mental benefits that are brought on by taking cold showers, and while they are somewhat unpopular and often people are scared or switching because they are uncomfortable as opposed to hot showers, they can be enjoyable and beneficial if you find a way to switch; the way I used was very effective and useful. Cold showers should be more widespread and popular because of their many benefits to both the body and mind.
