Your Body

What Are the Benefits of a Cold Shower?

A hot shower first thing in the morning or after a long day at work can often feel wonderful and relaxing but have you ever considered taking a cold shower? There are many hidden benefits of cold showers – being good for both the mind and the body.

 

These benefits are based on the knowledge of the Wim Hof method, built on three powerful pillars – breathing techniques, controlled exposure to cold, and commitment. Together these three pillars form a method that provides you with the means to cope with numerous stressors and challenges.

 

The benefits of cold showers will help you to improve your health and wellness from the inside out – having a positive impact on your hair and nails, immune system, and many more. In this article, we jump straight into the cold shower and share the many health benefits with you.

 

Are Cold Showers Good for You?

 

We know that hot showers are often associated with warmth and feeling clean, but what about cold showers? Deep dive into the many benefits of cold showers below:

 

1) Boosts Your Immune System

 

Cold showers will help you build a more robust immune system. Exposure to cold temperatures will trigger your circulatory system to reduce inflammation. It will also increase the number of white blood cells in your body, increasing your metabolic rate which will help to stimulate the immune response.

 

To help support your immune system alongside having a cold shower, you can consider taking immune support supplements, such as microbiome capsules and superfood powers.

 

2) Increases Alertness

 

Having a cold shower when you wake up will cause a shock to the body, increasing oxygen intake, heart rate, and alertness. The cold water will stimulate the body to take deeper breaths, helping you to concentrate and make you feel ready and focused for the day ahead.

 

For more ways to increase your energy levels without relying on caffeine, check out this article:

 

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3) Healthier Hair

 

Warm water is important in your hair regime as it allows the follicles in our hair to open up so they can be cleaned and conditioned. However, having a cold shower can also have many benefits for your hair follicles, helping to lock in moisture and reduce the risk of your hair becoming dry and brittle over time.

 

Taking the plunge and having a cold shower can leave your hair looking healthier and shinier. If you’re not ready to turn the temperature down, consider adding collagen supplements into your diet to support the maintenance of normal, healthy hair. .

 

4) Soothes Sore Muscles

 

Cold showers can help tired and achy muscles, helping to reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Cold water has regenerative properties helping your muscles to relax and repair themselves after an intense workout. Having a cold shower will lower your body temperature, helping to promote faster blood flow which will allow for more blood to be delivered to the areas of the body that are sore.

5) Gives Your Skin a Healthy Glow

 

Having a cold shower can be excellent for your skin – cold water helps to tighten and constrict the blood flow which will promote your skin’s healthy glow. It can also be beneficial for people with sensitive or irritated skin as cold showers can help to overcome the sensation of scratching and calm the skin.

6) Reduces stress

 

Having a cold shower regularly will impose a small amount of stress on the body. By going through this process, you’ll help to strengthen the nervous system and help it get used to handling moderate levels of stress. A cold shower will also help to increase your willpower – it takes a strong mind to endure the cold for extended periods of time. Strengthening your willpower will benefit many aspects of your daily life.

 

You can also consider taking vitamins and supplements for stress relief. Check out this article on what six vitamins you can take to help reduce stress levels:

How to Take a Cold Shower

 

Having a cold shower may feel like a strange activity, but these simple steps will have you turning down the temperature in no time.

 

  1. Start by enjoying a warm shower as normal.
  2. Once you’ve cleaned your hair and body slowly begin to turn the water temperature down a notch.
  3. Gradually reduce the temperature until you begin to notice a chill – your breathing rate may increase and goosebumps may appear on the skin.
  4. Once the temperature is down, stay where you are – you may choose to start with a short 30 seconds under the cold water but, with practice, aim to increase this to around 2-3 minutes.
  5. Take deep breaths as your body adjusts to the temperature.

 

Now we’ve shared the benefits of cold showers it’s time to take the plunge!

 

Discover more ways to boost your immune system in this article:

 

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Garden of Life

Garden of Life

Writer and expert