But the research that exists shows some positive results. In one clinical study, participants who took daily cold showers for several months reported decreased depression symptoms. Additional research suggests that cold water may boost your mood and decrease anxiety.
"Cold showers are better than a morning coffee to get the brain awake and the body prepared for the day. They're are an absolute game changer for health and should become a crucial part of most people's morning routine.
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.
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.
What Is The Challenge? Take a cold shower each morning for a minimum of 30-seconds for 7-days. Ideally, the water will be around 60°F (15°C) or less.
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.
'Cold showers definitely help with mental resilience,' says Hayes. 'Simply having one is a feat of willpower in itself. You're training your body and mind to go out of your comfort zone, which makes you stronger and more resilient.
A chilly zap from cold water signals to your brain to release endorphins, the feel-good hormone. This may create: A decrease in depression symptoms and anxiety. Improvement in stress levels.
A cold shower, especially post-exercise, can help with your recovery and reduce muscle soreness. How? The cold temperature causes the veins in your muscles to contract, helping flush out lactic acid that has built up during exercise and can cause soreness and stiffness.
While warm bathing might cause a slight melatonin spike, ice bathing causes an even greater one. This is because scientists believe that melatonin production is stimulated not when the body heats up, but when it cools down.
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 cold shower — even just for a few minutes — can work as cold therapy to help you heal, recover and generally feel good, especially after exercise.
Don't stay in for more than 10 minutes (3-8 minutes is optimal) The best time to take a cold shower is in the morning, as it kick-starts your system ready for the rest of the day. If you struggle to take the plunge, start with your feet and hands and submerge one limb at a time.
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?
There's a reason your first reaction to a polar blast of H2O is to move away from it: Cold water strains your body. The natural response to icy water hitting your skin is your system flipping the switch to survival mode. The shock brought by cold water puts your circulatory system into overdrive.
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.
Boosts Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is an essential hormone in men that regulate strength, muscle mass, bone density, and sex drive. Studies have shown that cold showers increase testosterone production due to the stimulation of the brain and testicles from the sudden temperature change.
People with comorbidities should refrain from taking a cold shower. For instance, if you are suffering from heart disease, or even high blood pressure, taking a bath with cold water can deteriorate your health.”
Cold water controls breakage, frizz and pesky flyaways, which is important for those with curly or thin hair. Cold water improves blood circulation. This enables your roots and scalp to receive valuable nutrients to remain healthy. And hence, washing hair with cold water promotes hair growth.
At the end of your shower, simply blast yourself with cold water for 30 seconds, followed by hot water for 30 seconds, and then finish with cold water for a final 30 seconds.
Safety. There is agreement in the medical and scientific communities that ice baths can pose serious risks to health. Risks include hypothermia, shock and the possibility of sudden cardiac death.