If you’re anything like me, you’ve been taking steamy, borderline boiling showers for as long as you can remember. And even if you aim for less than lava hot showers, a cold shower routine might not sound like something you want to undergo. But it’s worth looking into. As it turns out, there are some surprising and scientifically-backed benefits of cold showers that might just change your mind.
Instead of worrying about the inevitable shock to your system, take the time to embrace this practice. According to various studies, the system shock plays a big role in what makes showering in chilly water so amazingly good for you. In places like Sweden, jumping in frigid H2O for health benefits has been a tradition for centuries. These days, cold bathhouses are incredibly popular for the long-held belief that we should be taking cold dips.
Don’t fear the frigid temperature. Turn the knob down and find out what you’re really missing. You don’t have to part ways with your piping hot shower, but it’s good to mix things up and create a more balanced bath time routine, especially for the sake of your skin. According to the medical experts at Healthline, when cold water comes in contact with our skin, a chain reaction takes place throughout the body. In turn, our moods are believed to be affected as well. Here’s how it works, in a nutshell.
Benefits for The Body
While some of the mental benefits might remain up for debate, there is no doubt about how good cool water can be for the body, especially when we’re feeling sluggish or our system could use a little stimulating.
When cold water touches the skin, the interaction causes the surface vessels to constrict or open. In response, the body pushes blood away from the skin’s surface and toward our most vital organs. During this swift process, the brain is suddenly flooded with oxygen and much-needed nutrients in all areas. The vagus nerve is stimulated too, which can help us cope with physical and emotional stressors, potentially easing the troubled mind. But more on that in a minute.
According to tons of medical research, one of the most universally beneficial aspects might be the energy-boosting aspects of this sometimes icy experience. Undoubtedly, stepping into a cold shower is bound to wake you up. But there seems to be a little more to do it than just a system jolt.
If you’re looking to ramp up your energy levels, a cold shower is sure to do the trick. For one thing, it stimulates blood flow. With our cells picking up the pace, nutrients and oxygen more easily make their way through the body. You may also notice an improvement in your skin. Many believe cold showers can give you a gorgeous glow.
I can attest to this one. Any time I braved the cold water, I noticed an overall improvement in my complexion. And I feel great. Cool water constricts our pores, making them appear smaller. Not to mention, cooler water is gentler on the skin than scorching hot temperatures, which can leave the skin inflamed. And don’t knock the ice water facial until you’ve tried it.
Increased Circulation
When cold water first comes into contact with our skin, jumping away from it is natural. After all, cold water strains the body and sends us instinctively into survival mode. With our circulatory system instantly revved up, our blood flow increases as a means to warm us up and keep our vital organs out of what our system perceives as harm’s way.
The closer our skin is to our inside, the more our organs are protected. And as we all know, increased blood flow is always good for our overall well-being. Proper circulation is important. Actively working to better our blood flow does wonders for our health. Luckily, cold showers are one of the quickest ways to get there.
If you’re just not into the idea, there are other, less shiver-inducing ways to get your blood flowing. Take a brisk walk or do some jumping jacks instead. Still, you’ll get more out of a cold shower than you might realize. I know many women who swear by cold showers as a means of not just waking up in the morning but de-puffing. If you suffer from puffy under eyes in the morning, give a cold shower a go and see what happens.
Boosted Immune System
Some research suggests that taking cold showers can help you steer clear of the common cold. Cooler showers are believed to elevate the immune system, lowering the likelihood of catching various illnesses. Some studies have also shown that there may be a connection between cold showers and improved health for cancer survivors.
With all of this said, there’s no need to go overboard. Health experts say to limit chilly bath time routines to one to three times a week.
Read More: 8 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System
It Could Be Good For The Mind
Don’t just jump right into an icy shower situation. Instead, let your body naturally acclimate to the temperature drop. Start out with warm or hot water and gradually turn the dial down from there. As our body adjusts to the cold water, your sympathetic nervous system starts to slow down. As this happens, your parasympathetic system picks up the pace and inevitably takes over. This is believed to create a calming effect that might help those dealing with anxiety.
On top of anxiety, taking a cold shower might relieve various symptoms associated with depression and OCD as well. Some doctors even prescribe cold showers to their patients. As it turns out, cool water not only stimulates the vagus nerve, it causes a release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, boosting our sense of well-being, contributing to a state of calm, and potentially reducing cortisol levels, better known as “the stress hormone.”
So if you’re feeling down, step into a cold shower and see what happens. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by just how many endorphins are released. Many health experts believe that one of the quickest ways to boost brain activity is with a brisk rush of cold water straight into our system. Cold showers have even been shown to combat depression and various mood disorders.
When those icy water droplets hit your skin, your mind may go blank for a moment or two. But give it time. The initial shock will subside, and the lasting benefits will soon outweigh the immediate discomfort you feel if you’re suffering from recurring thoughts or can’t seem to calm your mind. Some swear by cold showers as a mindfulness strategy.
What Are The Risks?
While the benefits are great, there could be risks as well. For instance, those with heart disease are sometimes discouraged from adopting a cold shower routine. This is because cold water may increase stress on the heart and may contribute negatively to an irregular heartbeat.
Some people are staunchly against cold showers and strongly advise against them. Many note the potential strain on the heart, and others say that instead of waking them up, it had the opposite effect, leaving them more tired than before they showered.
Still, the benefits are worth noting. And you’ll never know just what a cold shower routine could do for you until you’ve given it a try. Just make sure you’re incorporating this chilly step in the healthiest way possible. Here’s how to do it.
How to Adopt a Healthy Cold Shower Routine
Are you ready to try a cold shower? Brace yourself for the stark shift, and then give your body time to adjust. And be sure to test the temperature first. Science suggests that the noted benefits of a cold shower start when the H2O’s temperature drops to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take a deep breath and commit to the process as your body adjusts. After about thirty seconds beneath the cold water stream, you may notice a positive effect on your overall state of being. Experts say to remain in the shower for about one minute or two to three minutes every two days.
The longer you commit to your cold shower routine, the more you will likely begin to notice the positive effects on your body and mind. But some of the benefits are immediate, making this shocking and sudden rush all the more worth it. With all of this said, there are medical experts who dub the benefits of cold showers “oversold,” noting that while they are capable of improving our overall health, they should never be treated as a solution to a serious health problem.
The general consensus is that cold showers should be treated as a periodic boost to our overall systems. So why not take the plunge and see what wonders it can do for you?
Read More: How to Make a Shower Melt That Will Change Your Rinsing Experience
