A cold shower is a shower with a temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold water showers are a form of water therapy or hydrotherapy, and it’s been used for centuries. One reason it is used is to take advantage of the body’s tendency to adapt to harsher conditions. The result is becoming more resistant to stress.
While cold showers make great therapy, they’re not a primary source for any conditions. However, they can help improve symptom relief and general well-being.
Increasing Endorphins
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, depression affects at least 10% of American adults. There are numerous medications and drugs used to treat depression based on the severity or duration of the symptoms present. One natural method that’s gaining popularity is hydrotherapy.
Taking a cold shower for 5 minutes 2 or 3 times a week helped relieve symptoms of depression in this clinical trial. For those battling depression, a cold shower can work as a gentle electroshock therapy. The cold water will send electrical impulses to the brain. This jolts the system to increase clarity, alertness, and energy levels. Endorphins, known as happiness hormones, are also released during a cold shower.
Improves Metabolism
Taking a cold shower a couple of times a week can help naturally improve a person’s metabolism. While it won’t allow a person to lose weight alone, it can have a positive impact when combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits.
Improves Circulation
It can feel slightly uncomfortable to be immersed in cold water, but it can also be invigorating. Water that’s colder than our natural body temps causes the body to work a bit harder to maintain the core temperature. When taking a cold shower regularly, it can make our circulatory system more efficient, and some people report their skin looking better.
Helps Combat Common Illnesses
Our body is designed to become resistant to elements we’re exposed to. The shock from cold water in the bloodstream stimulates leukocytes, which help fight infection in the body. Taking regular cold showers can help your body’s resistance to common illnesses like the flu and common cold.
Cold showers won’t magically cure any condition. You should only use them as a supplement to the traditional treatments but never as a replacement. It’s best to keep cold showers to a few times a week for the best results. Too much of anything can be wrong, am I right?
Cold showers and bath therapy have been used for ages. It isn’t a new technique; however, the studies surrounding the benefits are more recent. There are many athletes who practice cold water showering for the benefits they bring.
If you have any preexisting medical conditions, it would be best if you talked to your doctor before taking any cold showers. You never know what could come of it. Especially if you’re on prescription medications, honestly, it’s best to talk to your doctor before trying anything new that could affect your body.
