What Are Some of the Top Health Benefits of Cold Showers?
On a hot summer’s day, a cold shower can provide much-needed relief – and potentially a whole lot more.
As it turns out, immersing yourself in cold water for a few minutes on a regular basis may help to improve your alertness, mood, energy, immune health, skin, pain levels, metabolism, blood flow, workout recovery, and more.
First adopted by athletes to help reduce muscle soreness and promote faster recovery, the practice of taking cold showers is now routine for a growing number of people wanting to feel their best.
Here are the compelling reasons why you may want to add a shock of cold into your daily douse!
What Is Hydrotherapy?
Research into ancient medical texts shows that cold hydrotherapy has been used for thousands of years for its health-promoting and pain-relieving effects.
While there are many purported health benefits attributed to taking cold showers, most of the research on cold hydrotherapy has been conducted using cold water immersion (CWI).
Health experts believe that many of the CWI benefits also can be obtained, to some degree, from taking cold showers. Indeed, studies on cold shower therapy so far have shown promising results, although more research is needed.
Benefits have been noted with as little as 30 seconds of regular cold-shower exposure. Here are the most significant ways cold showers can boost your health and well-being.
6 Top Health Benefits of Taking Cold Showers
-
May Uplift Your Mood
Cold showers for mental health have become a “thing” for good reason.
Whole-body exposure to cold water can trigger the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and endorphins, which are central to regulating emotions, stress, and motivation (reward processing). Deficits in these neurotransmitters may factor into the development of mental health issues – especially low mood and feelings of anxiousness.
Participants exposed to cold water immersion in studies have reported positive changes in mood following as little as one immersion. A study from 2022 had participants immerse themselves in cold water up to the neck. Results showed not just an increase in positive mood, but also increased alertness, greater energy, and feeling more inspired, active, attentive, and proud – while at the same time feeling less nervous and distressed.
Preliminary research from another study found that a couple of participants who took regular cold showers at even a moderate temperature of 68 degrees F experienced a lighter mood.
-
May Boost Your Immunity
It appears that taking regular cold showers may give your immune system a boost. It’s believed that the shock produced by the cold water can energize the blood cells that fight off infection.
In 2016, researchers from the Netherlands found that participants who took daily cold showers for durations of 30, 60, and 90 seconds for 90 days had milder illnesses than those who didn’t take the cold showers. The participants who took the daily cold showers called out sick from work 29% less of the time, suggesting a stronger working immune system.
-
May Help with Pain and Post-Workout Recovery
Taking a cold shower causes your blood vessels near the surface of your skin to constrict, which diverts blood towards your core. The process is called vasoconstriction. It helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, which are key to relieving pain.
These benefits are fantastic for post-workout recovery too. Vasoconstriction helps to reduce swelling and inflammation in the muscles, as well as draw waste substances and lactic acid away from the muscles.
When the body begins to warm again, vasodilation happens (blood vessels relax and expand). Warm blood pumps around the tissues, bringing oxygen and nutrients, promoting faster muscle recovery, and reducing muscle soreness.
A 2017 study found cold water immersion post-workout was as effective as active recovery (such as a light swim, stretch, or walk) in reducing inflammation and muscle soreness.
-
May Boost Circulation
Cold hydrotherapy also can stimulate blood flow. When you’re immersed in cold water or even standing under the flow of cold water in a shower, it provides a shock to the system. Your blood rushes to surround your vital organs.
At the same time, your heart rate increases, pumping blood more efficiently to ensure it supplies every part of your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs.
All that nourishing blood flow benefits your organs, muscles, and tissues. And as your body fights to stay warm, your metabolism gets a little boost as well!
-
May Benefit Your Skin
A chilly shower may provide a number of benefits to your skin.
Cold water calms and soothes the skin. Because it constricts blood vessels, a cold shower can reduce redness and puffiness as well. This can be very helpful for people who deal with inflammatory skin conditions.
Cold showers tighten skin pores and help you to retain your skin’s (as well as your hair’s) natural oils. Overall improved circulation as result of cold hydrotherapy supports the health of the skin and may even aid in clearing blemishes.
However, water that’s too cold can be harsh on the skin and cause redness, especially in people with sensitive skin.
-
May Build Resilience
Taking a cold shower isn’t easy. Regularly challenging yourself to be uncomfortable may help you to build resilience, allowing you to handle stressful situations with greater ease.
A survey involving winter sea bathers indicated that regular exposure to cold water was associated with lower self-reported stress levels and higher well-being.
Cold water exposure is such a powerful tool for strengthening mental resilience, a military study conducted earlier this year found that it could be recommended as an addition to routine military training regimens!
How to Begin Taking Cold Showers
If you want to add cold showers to your health routine, experts suggest starting by turning your shower fully on cold for 30-second intervals at first, and then gradually working up to 60 seconds, and then to 90 seconds. Some experts say that 3 minutes is the ideal duration for maximum benefits. Do it regularly for best results.
It’s important to note that cold hydrotherapy isn’t recommended for everyone, especially if you’re elderly or have heart health issues. Talk to your healthcare provider before you adopt a cold-shower routine.
At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
- What Are the 7 Healing Frequencies and Benefits of Sound Healing? - April 26, 2024
- Here Are Some of the Best Tension Release Exercises to Help You Feel Your Best! - April 17, 2024
- Foodscaping: How to Grow Healthy Foods In Your Own Garden! - April 12, 2024
