Surely this is joke. Why bother…. well, here’s the evidence :
- Physiological stress to the skin, alternating heat and cold, decreases stress hormones (cortisol) and reduces sensitivity to pain through stimulating metabolism and circulation
- Exposure to cold activates our sympathetic nervous system and increases beta-endorphin, seratonin and noradrenaline in our blood system, helpful chemicals to combat depression and anxiety
- Helps with productivity – folks taking cold showers are 29% less likely to call in sick for work or school
- Cold water immersion and contrast water therapy (first using hot water, then cold) helps you recover from sport and reduces fatigue
- Energy expenditure is higher during intermittent cold exposure, helping with metabolic rate and weight loss. White blood cells also increase, supporting better immunity.
- Helps with male fertility and sleep for everyone.
Start by taking 30 second cold showers each day, or even just turning your normal showers to cold for the last half minute. Many cultures have done this over time, including Scandinavians and Native American tribes that alternate saunas and jumping into cold streams, Spartans who believed cold showers gave them an edge, and Japanese Shinto practitioners who stand in icy waterfalls to cleanse their spirit. Hippocrates said water therapy ‘allays lassitude’ (physical or mental weakness) and Thomas Jefferson used water baths each day to maintain his health. Oh, and remember to make it cold – our skin has 10 times the number of cold receptors as compared to heat receptors.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17993252
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/inner-source/201407/cold-splash-hydrotherapy-depression-and-anxiety
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325725.php
- https://www.longdom.org/open-access/the-effects-of-cold-therapy-in-losing-weight–inches-as-well-asdecreasing-body-mass-index-body-fat-percentage-and-lowering-ofhealt.pdf
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/12-benefits-of-taking-cold-showers-every-day/ar-BBUq4zD
- https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/cold-shower-benefits/