I Am Taking A Cold Shower For 30 Days, You Should Too!
I have been thinking about this for a while and I have even tried a cold shower a couple times, but I have never really tried to make it part of my routine until now. I am going to try a cold shower every time I take a shower for 30 days to see if I notice a difference in my energy and stress. Why 30 days? No other reason than if I can do it for 30 days straight, I can likely keep doing it from now on. If it is good enough for the Rock, it has to be good, right?? Will join join me on this 30 days of uncomfortable showers challenge? If you haven’t heard of the benefits of cold showers before, I have listed them here along with some scientific studies that back up the claims.
Cold showers have been known to have several benefits for the mind and body. Here are some of them:
Improved alertness and mood: When cold water pours over your body, your heart rate will increase, resulting in a rush of blood through your body which will help you feel more awake and alert. This can also help improve your mood.
Increased testosterone levels: Testosterone is an essential male hormone which is responsible for the development and maintenance of male attributes. Cold showers have been shown to increase testosterone levels in men.
Boosted circulation: Cold showers can help boost circulation by increasing blood flow throughout the body.
Reduced stress levels: Regularly taking cold showers imposes a small amount of stress on your body, which leads to a process called hardening. This means that your nervous system gradually gets used to handling moderate levels of stress.
Soothing sore muscles: Cold showers can help soothe sore muscles by reducing inflammation and swelling.
Glossy hair: Cold water can help close the cuticles on your hair strands, which can help reduce frizz and make your hair look shinier.
Improved metabolism: Cold showers can help improve metabolism by increasing the amount of brown fat in your body. Brown fat is a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat.
Improved immunity: Cold showers have been shown to improve immunity by increasing the number of white blood cells in your body.
Weight loss: Cold showers can help with weight loss by increasing the amount of brown fat in your body, which burns calories to generate heat.
In addition to these benefits, cold showers have also been shown to improve skin health, reduce inflammation, and improve lymphatic circulation.
Scientific Studies
A large study from the Netherlands showed that people who took a cold shower were less likely to take time off work due to sickness.
Another study found that being immersed in cold water three times a week, for six weeks, gave a slight boost to their immune system.
Scientific studies have found that taking a cold shower increases the number of white blood cells in your body. These blood cells protect your body against diseases. Researchers believe that this process is related to an increased metabolic rate, which stimulates the immune response.
Additional clinical research studies affirmed that cold showers not only decreased inflammation in study participants but also showcased two additional benefits. Study participants reported significant analgesic effects as well as substantial benefits associated with improved sleep patterns.
A study found that cold-water immersion at 14°C increased metabolism by 350 percent. Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy, so a higher metabolism roughly equals more energy burned.
If you’re interested in trying cold showers for yourself, start by taking short cold showers and gradually increasing the length and intensity over time. This is what I am doing until I get more used to it. You can also try alternating between hot and cold water during your shower for added benefits if you are not ready to fully commit.
