Why You Should Take Cold Showers Regularly
Not long ago, the internet was filled with the popular ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ videos. We used to look at those celebrities and feel the pain they were going through. Some of us could relate to that winter morning where the heater was not working and we had to take a cold shower. However, thanks to that heater, we lost some of our body fat (and more benefits coming up) and hence should not regret it.
Here are a few health benefits of taking cold showers:
Promotes Weight Loss
Cold showers stimulate the generation of brown fat (It is a special type of fat that is activated when our body is exposed to cold and generates energy by burning more calories. It’s basically good fat). Brown fat generates heat and results in the burning of more calories.
Improves Circulation
As cold water hits your body, its temperature decreases. For maintaining your ideal body temperature, blood starts flowing faster throughout the body thereby increasing your circulation. Also, cold in general stimulates you to take deep breaths reducing the level of CO2 in your body.
Reduces Stress
Cold showers could also help cut the levels of uric acid and boost glutathione in the blood, which helps reduce stress. Taking cold showers regularly helps your nervous system to get used to moderate levels of stress.
Increases Testosterone
To all the guys out there, this is one of the coolest (pun intended) benefits of taking cold showers. We have learned in biology that testes are kept at a temperature cooler than our body’s temperature. Why? Because it’s the ideal temperature to work. A study revealed that sperm quality, volume, and motility was significantly higher in the colder months of the year. The same precursor hormones (LH and FSH) that kickstart spermatogenesis, also start the testosterone synthesis.
Promotes muscle recovery
A 2009 study showed that an ice bath after intense training improves circulation and help remove lactic acid from our body thereby speeding up the recovery process. Although taking a cold shower won’t be as effective as an ice bath, it will surely be helpful.
Boosts immunity
Taking cold showers regularly increases the number of white blood cells in your body (white blood cells are the warriors of your body which help to fight against diseases).
Increases willpower
It takes a lot of courage to enter the shower shooting cold water at you. By incorporating a cold shower in your daily routine, you are building a strong mind and increasing your willpower which will enhance various aspects of your daily life.
Better than coffee
Taking a cold shower in the morning will wake you up and kick-start your day. See, you don’t need caffeine for that. Take a cold shower instead. Also, they help you to go to bed at night and have a peaceful sleep. The reason is that they greatly reduce symptoms of sinus distress. It is these symptoms that often keep people up all night feeling uncomfortable and hence are not able to sleep.
Great! But how do I start?
Start with lukewarm water and gradually decrease the temperature.
Or else, take a hot shower in the beginning and then switch to cold shower for the last 20 seconds and moderately increase the duration.
It will take some time to get used to but in the long term, it will be beneficial for your health and may even help you cut down your caffeine intake throughout the day.
