7 benefits of cold showers
Around the world, people have been using cold water therapy for centuries. Nowadays, cold showers are the most accessible way for many to experience cold water exposure and the advantages it brings. Discover the seven of the main benefits of cold showering:
1. Cold showers reduce muscle inflammation
One of the most known benefits is the fact that exposure to the cold lowers and soothes muscle inflammation. You may have noticed that many professional athletes will soak in an ice bath or take a long cool shower following a strenuous workout to help reduce soreness and inflammation.
2. Cold showers improve blood circulation
In the cold, your body is forced to increase blood flow through your veins to keep warm. This reaction is super important as when we age, our blood circulation tends to decline. Healthy blood circulation helps to provide oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.
3, Cold showers are a gateway to cold-water exposure
Everyone showers daily, which is why showers are super accessible to the masses! Many people use showers as the first step in their cold-water therapy journey. It’s as easy as a turn of the handle.
4. Cold showers can help build resilience
Using showers is a great way to build up your resilience and refine your body’s response to the cold before taking your next step. We’d recommend a blast of cold for 10 seconds at the end of your hot shower and work up your time from there. Once you’ve hit 5 minutes, you’re ready to take the next step – if that’s what you want to do!
5. Cold showers improve lymphatic circulation
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood. Unlike blood that is constantly pumped through your heart, lymph fluid doesn’t have a central pump and relies on muscle contraction. Cold water causes the lymph vessels to contract, which in turn affects the immune system, which ultimately keeps you feeling happy and healthy.
6. Cold showers improve alertness
This one isn’t a surprise! As the body is placed under stress from cold exposure, fight or flight mode is activated. It’s been shown that cold showering can improve focus, attention span, how alert we are, as well as learning capacity and memory recall.
7. Cold showers can boost metabolism
When taken regularly, cold showering can improve your metabolism. The cold water forces your body to work hard to stay warm and Recent cold exposure studies found that 60% of the heat generated by the participants was produced by their bodies burning fat.
These are just a handful of the benefits. Cold showering is great way to start your cold-water journey as they are super accessible for many, and often become a gateway to much deeper cold exposure like wild swimming or ice baths. Now you know the benefits, find out how to take a cold shower.
Give it a go and get your cold on!