I love starting the day off with a long, hot shower to really wake myself up and get my blood pumping.
So I was more than a little surprised to find that not only are frequent hot showers a bad habit, but there are an enormous list of benefits that come from cold water.
A cold bath or a cold shower might not sound all that appealing, but the positive effects of icy water have definitely led me to rethink my morning ritual.
In this exclusive list, you’ll see just how cold water can benefit your health and your mental state. Most of these came as quite a surprise — who knew that cold water could actually help to prevent my colds or make my hair shinier?
And apparently this cold water method has been around for centuries. Paleo Leap writes, “Hydrotherapy, or improving health by applying water of different temperatures, has a long history, from the temperature-controlled baths of ancient Rome to the healing spas of Switzerland.”
Scroll through below to see how you too can benefit from taking the “icy plunge.”
Do you like to take cold showers? Can you think of any more cold water benefits? Let us know in the comments!
Benefit #1: Fights Depression
If you are suffering from depression, you obviously want to discuss treatment with your doctor. However, cold water has been known to have a positive effect on those feeling depressed.
According to MedicalDaily.com, “Cold showers have been shown to relieve depression symptoms due to the intense impact of cold receptors in the skin… It produces an anti-depressive effect, and boosts moods, making it a pick-me-up."
Benefit #2: Relieves Muscle Soreness
One of the best ways to relieve aching muscles is to immerse them in cold or icy water.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, “Cold water baths appear to be significantly more effective than rest in relieving delayed-onset muscle soreness, which typically occurs one to four days after exercise or other physical activity.”
Benefit #3: Creates Shinier Hair
You can add extra shine to your hair by using cold water anytime you shower.
According to Harper’s Bazaar, “Rinsing hair with cold water closes the cuticle, leaving a smooth, shiny surface.”
They also recommend blow drying your hair with cold air to achieve the maximum benefits.
Benefit #4: Strengthens The Immune System
It might seem really soothing to take a hot shower when you are feeling under the weather. But many report that cold water can actually be even more beneficial to the immune system.
According to Underground Health Reporter, cold water should be used to “enhance immunity.”
They write, “Cold water stimulates the release of substances vital to immune function, such as cytokines."
Benefit #5: Improves Skin Health
If you are looking to give your skin a pick-me-up, you might want to try your hand at some cold water therapy.
According to MedicalDaily.com, “Hot water has the tendency to dry out our skin, so it’s best to use cold water to tighten your cuticles and pores, which will prevent them from getting clogged.”
Benefit #6: Increases Circulation
A great way to improve circulation is by taking an ice bath, or by soaking the low-circulation area in ice water, such as a foot bath.
According to MedicalDaily.com, “As cold water hits the body, its ability to get blood circulating leads the arteries to more efficiently pump blood.”
Benefit #7: Helps The Sex Life
We’ve all heard that we should take a cold shower when we want to calm our hormones. But reports show that cold water may just have the opposite effect.
According to BT.com, “You need to be cooling it down. Being in cold water is thought to improve levels of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen.”
Benefit #8: Soothes Burns
Whenever you got a burn as a child, your mom may have told you to run it under cool water. Well, your mom was absolutely right.
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should “hold the burned area under cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain eases. Or apply a clean towel dampened with cool tap water.”
Benefit #9: Cuts Fat
It might sound crazy, but many studies have shown that cold water can actually help stimulate weight loss.
According to BT.com, “If you jump into a cold shower… your metabolism can increase by up to 550 percent of its resting level, burning calories in the process.
“Drinking cold water is thought to have a similar effect.”
Benefit #10: Deepens Breathing
If you have trouble accessing the full depth of your lungs’ potential, cold water immersion may just be the answer.
According to Lifehack.org, “When cold water pours over your body, your breathing deepens in response to the shock of the cold (this is your body trying to keep you warm by increasing overall oxygen intake).”
With so many incredible benefits associated with cold water, it may just be time to change the way you shower or take a bath!
Do you take cold showers? Do you know any other benefits of cold water? Let us know in the comments.
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