Health Benefits Of Cold Water Showers

Did you know that cold water showers are actually beneficial to your health? Cold water baths are said to be one of the cures to depression that actually work, and that’s just one of the many benefits. If you want to find out the other good stuff that comes from bathing with cold water, keep reading.

Here are five reasons you should bath with cold water more;

1. Cold water increases Endorphins

Depression affects many people. Many drugs treat depression, depending on the severity or duration of symptoms. One holistic method of treatment that’s gaining popularity is hydrotherapy, which involves taking a cold shower for up to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week. Bathing with cold water was shown to help relieve symptoms of depression in a clinical trial.

2. Helps improve metabolism

White fat is the fat we associate with conditions such as obesity and heart disease, but we are all born with brown fat. Researchers have found that brown fat plays an important role in adult health. Healthy levels of brown fat also indicate that white fat will be at a healthy level. And brown fat is activated by exposure to cold temperature.

People that are obese can’t simply start taking cold showers to lose weight without changing other lifestyle habits. But taking a cold shower 2 or 3 times per week may contribute to increased metabolism. It may help fight obesity over time.

3. Improves circulation

It can feel uncomfortable to immerse your body in cold water, but it can also be invigorating. That’s because water that is colder than your natural body temperature causes the body to work slightly harder to maintain its core temperature. When taken regularly, cold showers can make our circulatory system more efficient. Some people also report that their skin looks better as a result of cold showers, probably because of better circulation.

Athletes have known this benefit for years, even if we have only recently seen data that supports cold water for healing after a sports injury. It’s the same reason that ice brings down inflammation when we bruise or tear a muscle. By bringing the temperature of an area of the body down, we speed up the delivery of warmer, freshly oxygenated blood to that area. And that speeds up recovery time. Some people may benefit from cold showers as a way to help their blood move through their body more quickly. These include people with poor circulation, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

4. Helps fight off common illnesses

Our bodies are designed to become resistant to the elements we are exposed to. For example, leukocytes help fight infection in the body. The shock of cold water in the bloodstream stimulates leukocytes. This means that taking cold showers can help your resistance to common illnesses, like colds and the flu.

One study even indicated that cold showers could make the body more resistant to certain types of cancer. And a clinical trial in the Netherlands showed that people who took cold showers called out of work less.

People that are preparing for surgery or other disease treatment that could lead to decreased immunity might want to start taking cold showers in preparation.

5. Better skin and hair

Cold water will help to reduce the size of your pores, as your skin tightens from the temperature. Your body isn’t encouraged to release oils, so you don’t end up with a greasy look on your skin or in your hair. If you have dry skin, excess oils aren’t lost, helping to create a healthier and less painful appearance on your skin.

The skin and hair follicles will also see increased activity. Your skin latches onto your hair, meaning you will lose less hence making it hair becomes thicker.

If you have dyed hair, you certainly want to think about cold showers. The heat of the water will damage your hair and make the colors bleed. You end up needing more touch-ups, especially if you opt for fashion colors. Cold water helps to lock in the colors to your hair, so they look vibrant and clear for longer.