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.
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.
Taking a cold shower can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, waking your body up and making you feel more alert [3].
According to a study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, taking cold showers for two to three minutes, once or twice a day (preceded by a five-minute 'adjustment period' of slowly cooling water) could help to relieve symptoms of depression.
If you have any heart issues, it's best to talk to your doctor before starting cold showers. It's also possible to overdo the cold. "If the water temperature is too cold, below 10°C, and you take a long shower, you can get hypothermia.
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.
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.
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.
In general, showering every other day or every few days is enough for most people. Keep in mind that showering twice a day or frequently taking hot or long showers can strip your skin of important oils. This can lead to dry, itchy skin.
The largest study with 3,000 participants was carried out in the Netherlands and found that people who took a daily cold shower (following a warm shower) of either 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 90 seconds for one month were off work with self-reported sickness 29 per cent less than those who had a warm shower only.
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.”
In addition, bathing or showering causes blood vessels to dilate and triggers a drop in blood pressure. If you move too quickly, your brain may not get enough oxygen, making you feel light-headed and dizzy, says Hoffman.
Cold showers might not improve sleep because of cold water's stimulating properties. Cold water immersion raises levels of cortisol and norepinephrine. View Source . Cortisol is involved in boosting alertness levels, and consequently, cortisol levels.
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.
"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.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Cold showers can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, lower stress levels, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue. Hot showers, meanwhile, can improve cardiovascular health, soothe stiff joints, and improve sleep.
Lukewarm water is advisable to wash your face with, but cold water has its benefits, too. Cold water tightens the appearance of your skin, so it may make you look renewed and refreshed. It also helps boost your circulation, which can help give your skin a healthier appearance, albeit temporarily.
Cold showers can potentially help with acne, but certainly not in the extreme, cure-all way as is often portrayed online. Cool temperatures constrict blood vessels, which can reduce swelling, inflammation, and overall redness, explains board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD.
Cold water not only helps the scalp retain its moisture—it also seals down the hair cuticles and helps lock moisture into the strands themselves. "The cool water temperature closes and strengthens the hair cuticle, which can result in stronger, healthier hair over time," notes celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
The coldest a shower can get will depend on the temperature of the water coming out of the tap, which can vary depending on where you live and the time of year. In general, the coldest a shower is likely to get is around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, although this can vary depending on the factors mentioned earlier.
Chilling the skin causes blood vessels to contract, shrinking pores and reducing puffiness immediately. Then, when the cold source is removed, blood and oxygen rush to the surface of the skin as it returns to its regular temperature, providing an overall tightening and glow-boosting benefit.
Sleeping Naked Can Burn More Calories
As mentioned above, sleeping naked usually means sleeping cooler, and sleeping cooler can boost metabolism and aid in weight loss.