Did you know cold showers are healthy for you? It’s true. In fact, many scientific studies support the health benefits of cold showers. But aside from the controlled experiments that validate my claim (which I’ll get into in a moment), I also have personal experience with cold showers.
As of this writing, I’ve been taking them daily for over two years.
For this reason, I’m more than qualified to speak on this topic. So, what are the advantages you can experience from a daily ice cascade practice? I’m glad you asked because there are many. And in this article, we’re exploring the top 10 health benefits of cold showers.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Heightened Awareness
If you’re like most people, you may feel mentally foggy and clouded when waking up. The solution? Get your ass in a cold shower! Seriously. If you have trouble motivating yourself to get up in the morning, a cold shower will solve that. The cold water stimulates your brain with electrical impulses; these impulses then shock your system, increasing your alertness and mental clarity.
2. Improved Mental Health
Cold showers may help stave off depression. Researchers have found a link between jumping in an icy receptacle and reducing (or alleviating) depression symptoms. Even though the results are not yet conclusive and more research is needed, the studies indicate that a daily cold shower may improve your mental health.
3. Strengthened Immune System
A study in the Netherlands suggests that cold showers may strengthen your immune system. The clinical trial revealed a 29% reduction in sick days. So it appears that cold showers may be an agent for a more robust immune system and overall health.
4. Elevated Mood
The health benefits of cold showers are extensive. And another area they can help improve is mood regulation. Endorphins (the body’s ‘feel-good’ hormone) are also released when you take a cold shower. This results in feelings of increased vitality, positivity, and emotional well-being. So if you’re having a hard day, jump in a cold shower. You may be surprised at how much your mood is instantly elevated.
5. Improved Stress Tolerance
In 2013, a study was conducted to analyze whether winter swimming for five successive months produced adaptational improvements to stress tolerance. For the trial, 15 healthy men were selected. After a few months of cold water immersion, the results indicated promising adaptive changes in the healthy winter swimmers. It was concluded that these shifts seem to boost the human body’s preparedness for stressful situations.
6. Boost the Management of Blood Sugar
You may experience an improvement in blood sugar management by taking cold showers. A 2016 study revealed some interesting findings regarding this subject. The analysis specified whether frigid water swimming for six straight months results in adaptive shifts in insulin acuity within the body. The results? Cold water may favourably regulate insulin sensitivity in people.
7. Alleviates Inflammation
Chronic inflammation (if left unchecked) can result in serious medical conditions. Some of these conditions can include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Arthritis and more
As a result, you should ensure inflammation is treated properly before it can reach that point. And one practice that may help is, you guessed it, cold showers.
8. Accelerate Exercise Recovery
There’s a reason why all the top athletes regularly take ice baths or cold plunges. After intense bouts of physical exertion, your muscles become sore, achy, and tired. Cold water narrows surface skin blood vessels (a process referred to as vasoconstriction). This bodily procedure redirects blood toward your core. As a result, a reduction in muscle swelling and inflammation occurs. Once the body warms, vasodilation takes place, pumping renewed, warm blood to the tissues, providing nutrients and oxygen, which supports and accelerates recovery time.
So the next time your body and muscles are feeling fatigued after a strenuous workout, take a cold shower!
9. Boosted Circulation
When your body feels the cold water splashing against it, it innately shifts into survival mode. Its reaction is to accelerate your heart rate as the icy water sends your circulatory system into a state of overdrive, improving your heart’s pumping efficiency and, as a result, strengthening circulation throughout your entire body. And with this improved circulation efficiency, your skin may clear from irritating blemishes, making you appear healthier.
An important note: a cold shower is NOT a substitute for regular exercise. So be sure you add this routine as an addition to whatever workout regime you currently are engaging in.
10. Improves Metabolism
Cold showers may help improve your metabolism. Everyone is born with white and brown fat cells. White fat cells are connected to obesity and heart disease. Conversely, brown fat cells are associated with adult health and longevity. When brown fat cells are stabilized at healthy levels, white fat cells are also kept in check and properly maintained.
As a result, your brown fat cells are essential for your health and vitality.
And how do you activate those health-inducing brown fat cells? You guessed it: Exposure to cold temperatures. This doesn’t mean you can just start taking cold showers and expect your metabolism to kick in, dropping all your excess weight.
Instead, think of cold showers as an additional improvement in numerous lifestyle changes that must be made. When numerous positive, healthy habits are practiced (consistently, over time), changes will occur.
Next Step: Start Enjoying the Health Benefits of Cold Showers
The health benefits of cold showers are clear. And while it’s certainly not the most comfortable practice, the advantages make it more than worth it. However, if you feel you lack the discipline to incorporate this habit (or any other habit) into your life, I can help. I have been on this self-improvement journey for more than 5 years.
As such, I have some insights into breaking bad habits and adopting positive ones. So, if you are ready to begin improving yourself and your life, grab my ebook to start your self-improvement journey today.
