Cold showers have surprising health benefits.
When it comes to living a fit and healthy lifestyle, there are a lot of small things you can do to make a big difference. I always say that fitness must be a habit, so making an overall lifestyle change is often the key to longevity. One of the ways you can do that is by taking cold showers.
I know you are probably thinking that cold showers are something they use to torture people on American Horror Story, or something teenagers do to quell hormonal surges, but there are actually a lot of surprising health benefits.
Weight Loss- To jump right in, cold showers can help you burn fat. Cold showers activate your body’s response to cold temperatures, which is to burn calories to generate warmth. You could potentially drop nine pounds per year, just by taking regular cold showers.
READ MORE: Unhealthy Shower Habits to Stop Immediately
Mood- This may come as no surprise to you, but cold showers make you more alert. The shock of cold water makes you breathe deeper, and your heart rate will increase, giving you more energy for the day, and jumpstarting your good mood.
Recovery. After a hard workout, a cold shower might be just what you need. Many athletes take ice baths after games. The shock of cold makes your blood vessels contract, reducing swelling and bruising.
Skincare. Hot water tends to dry out your skin, while cold water tightens your pores, which could prevent acne and oil buildup.
Immunity. Cold water speeds up your metabolic rate, which helps burn fat, as well as activate your immune system. When this happens, white blood cells are released, which help prevent sickness. So basically, cold showers can keep you healthy.
I know the idea of a cold shower is daunting. So instead of jumping right in, try changing the temperature of your shower to cold for the last five minutes. Your body will acclimate way quicker than you imagine, and those last five minutes will do wonders for your energy and overall health.