You probably think of cold showers as awful experiences that you’ve never chosen to have; rather, they’ve been imposed on you by events outside of your control. The rude people in your apartment or hostel used up all the hot water, or perhaps someone flushed the toilet before you were through taking a bath. You get upset and angry at these people for having you go through this horrible experience, but what if I told you that you should be saying “thank you” to them instead? Making your shower transition from hot to cold is good for both your health and your waistline. I’d like you to think about these five unexpected advantages of cold showers.
Let’s establish the fundamental truth that hot showers are a luxury and not a requirement before we discuss the practical advantages of taking cold showers. People had to take baths in whatever water was available to them for the majority of human history. If you’ve ever gone swimming in a lake, you probably recall that the water was frequently chilly. Intriguingly, despite developing heating systems for public baths in the first century BC, many Greeks continued to take advantage of the health advantages of cold-water bathing.
1. Cold showers burn fat
Your body has white fat and brown fat, two different types of fat. White fat represents the bad person (imagine the Joker) while brown fat is the good guy (think Batman). The bodily fat that we all recognize and try to lose is called white fat. White fat, which tends to gather at your waist, lower back, neck, and thighs, is stored when we consume more calories than our bodies require to function and we don’t burn those extra calories for energy. Its job is to produce heat to keep your body warm. Brown fat is the good guy you may have never even heard of. The good news is that when brown fat is activated by extremely cold temperatures, it burns calories to keep you warm, which may aid you with your weight loss efforts. How much help do you need? Researchers from Scandinavia discovered that exposure to low temperatures enhanced brown fat’s metabolic rate by fifteen times, which, if sustained, might help someone lose nine pounds in a year.
2. Cold showers boost recovery after exercise
After intense training, athletes frequently take ice baths to ease discomfort. You don’t have to go that far, but a fast cold shower after your workouts will provide a similar advantage. After all that jogging, maybe losing a pencil or going upstairs won’t be quite as painful with a little chilly.
3. Cold showers increase mood and alertness
Who doesn’t experience some drowsiness upon getting out of bed? Everyone struggles with this, but if you want to start the day with a spring in your step, take a cold shower before heading to work. Your breathing becomes deeper as the body is submerged in cold water due to the shock of the cold. (this is your body trying to keep you warm by increasing overall oxygen intake). Additionally, your heartbeat will quicken, sending a surge of blood through your body that will give you a boost of energy for the rest of the day.
4. Cold showers strengthen immunity and circulation
Remember when I said that taking cold showers increases your metabolic rate and aids in fat loss? As this rate rises, your immune system is activated and releases white blood cells that can fight viruses, reducing the frequency of illnesses you experience. Cold showers also improve blood circulation in general, which can prevent artery hardening and hypertension.
5. Cold showers give you attractive hair and skin
Taking cold showers could help you lessen the look of acne. While cold water tightens your cuticles and pores to keep them from becoming clogged, hot water dries out your skin. Cold showers can also make your hair shinier and more alluring so that your spouse can’t help but play with it. Your cuticle will shut when you use cold water, decreasing the likelihood that dirt will build up in your scalp. Check out these four skin care hacks for those who feel they’ve tried it all for more reading that will help you look better with your skin.
Put it into action.
If you’ve read any James Bond novels, you’ve probably noticed his distinct perspective on showering. Bond, the ultimate tough guy, began his bathing ritual with hot water but then lowered the temperature to a bone-chilling low. Since a “hot-to-cold” shower is frequently referred to as a “Scottish Shower,” it is suggested that this character quirk is an homage to Bond’s Scottish origin.
I’d advise beginning by following Bond’s bathing habits if you want to profit from the unexpected advantages of cold showers. You may also take an alternate-steam shower by simply alternating between hot and cold water every 10 to 20 seconds. Try taking a full-blast cold shower to see how you feel when you’re feeling bold and have the mental fortitude to endure the shivering. Accepted the challenge? Tell me how it goes in the comments when you return here.
