Advocates of cold showers for weight loss say that exposure to icy temperatures, even for a short duration, can help the body to burn fat, boost the metabolism, and activate the 'brown fat' in the body. Brown fat, also called adipose tissues, is a type of fat that is activated when the body gets cold.
Cold showers aren't going to help you lose fat faster, increase your testosterone levels, boost your post-workout recovery, strengthen your immune system, or give you prettier skin or hair. 10-minute ice baths can reduce post-workout muscle soreness, but they can also impair muscle growth and strength gains.
You have lost water weight due to the heat from the shower. Your body is trying to keep its temperature constant and attempts to do that by evaporative cooling (which doesn't work quite as well in the humid environment of a shower).
Taking cold showers after a workout can also increase one's mindfulness. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research found that cold water tightens and constricts blood flow in the body. It hydrates and detoxifies the cells and improves skin and muscle tone.
After 30 days of cold showers, most individuals report feeling more alert, having more energy, having healthier skin and hair, improved mental health and resilience, improved circulation, and more.
Going from a hot to cold shower — even for a couple of minutes — might protect you from circulating viruses. The shock of cold water can stimulate the blood cells that fight off infection (leukocytes).
Hot water has the tendency to dry out one's skin. One the other hand, cold water tightens pores, which prevents them from getting clogged, which means you'll have healthier looking skin. Cold showers can also make your hair appear shinier, stronger, and healthier by flattening hair follicles.
While someone is losing weight through severe calorie restriction, the metabolism may slow down to protect the body's heat-producing store of calories, leading to a cold feeling.
Cold water can help close pores, preventing dirt and bacteria from getting into the skin. Cold water can also help to reduce inflammation and redness in the skin. Cold showers can increase circulation, which gives your skin a healthy glow.
Colder temperatures can act as a tonic or astringent reducing clogged pores and keeping them less visible. Cold weather also slows down and prevents the secretion of sebum, keeping shine at bay and waterproofing your skin and hair. Open pores and less oil means reduced acne as well.
Cold showers can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, lower stress levels, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.
“No water can make you gain weight. In fact, your body has to expend calories to warm the water to the body's temperature which is 98 degrees. This means the water is raising the body's metabolic rate.
How Long to Take a Cold Shower. Keep it short: When first trying cold showers, aim to spend no more than 30 seconds under the cold water. You can increase the time as your body adapts. Ease in: Instead of jumping into a cold shower, start with the water warm, then gradually adjust the temperature downwards.
A 15 minute cold shower can burn as many as 62 calories. For a deeper insight into the benefits of cold showers, take a look at our dedicated blog, Cold Shower vs Hot Shower – What Are The Benefits?
The reason behind excess face fat is poor diet, lack of exercise, aging, or genetic conditions. Fat is usually more visible in the cheeks, jowls, under the chin, and neck. Facial fat tends to be more noticeable in people with rounded, less-pronounced facial features.
Healthier Skin
The heat of the water also expands your pores. If your pores are open from hot showers, they are more likely to become clogged. Because of this effect, hot showers often lead to acne or blackheads. A cold shower will keep your skin healthy, clean and moist.
Many gym-goers who want maximum recovery benefits swear by using either hot or cold water while washing off. The theory behind taking a cold shower to boost recovery is that cold temperatures cause vasoconstriction, the tightening of blood vessels that reduces blood flow to your skin and extremities.
Research shows that cold exposure increases the metabolic rate by only 1-2 calories per minute, meaning that a 10 minute cold shower is going to burn somewhere in the region of 10-20 extra calories. That's not a lot. You'd need to spend hours in the shower for it to have any kind of meaningful impact on weight loss.
Disadvantages Of Cold Showers
Cold showers can make you feel worse if you are unwell as it can have an adverse effect on your immune system. If you already have a cold, cough or fever, you will feel colder and your body will take longer to warm up.
It's also a good idea not to go any longer than 10 to 15 minutes. If you're like me and want to try cold water therapy without the ice tub, the Wim Hof Method suggests turning the shower to cold for the last 30 seconds and working your way up to two minutes if you can.