Lately there has been a lot of controversy around the temperature of your daily shower. As nice as it may be to take a hot, steamy shower to maintain the warm feeling from your bed, the idea of cold showers has been popping up recently. Wondering why you would even want to take a cold shower and how that would benefit you? Find out here at Mankind whether to stick to the heat or switch up your shower for good.
Are Cold Showers Good for You?
Even though it can be uncomfortable, cold showers are good for you. With a variety of health benefits, both mental and physical, they’re becoming increasingly popular, and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. We’ve picked out the top benefits and discussed them below.
Benefits of A Cold Shower:
Soothes Aching Muscles
Athletes and other sportsmen have been using cold showers to soothe sore and aching muscles for years. This is because the cold reduces the temperature of the muscle tissue, reducing inflammation and swelling almost immediately. Not only that, it also numbs the pain neurons, providing quick relief to aches and pains.
Increases Weight Loss
The body contains white and brown fat, and brown fat is the healthy fat which generates heat to keep the body warm. Exposure to cold temperatures activates brown fat, which causes you to burn more calories and works away the white fat. In turn, this stimulates weight loss and when paired with a healthy diet and exercise regime, it can have dramatic results.
Improves Skin
When cleansing your face, warm water is needed to open pores and remove dirt and impurities. However, once you’ve cleansed, cold water is the way forward. Helping to constrict the blood vessels, it temporarily tightens pores whilst decreasing redness and puffiness. Boosting circulation too, it leaves you with a healthy glow.
Aids Mental Wellness
Evidence has recently emerged that cold showers improve mental health and can treat depression. The shock of cold water activates beta-endorphin and noradrenaline in the brain, the same as anti-depressants do without the side effects. Spending a few minutes in the cold also invigorates the mind, improving both focus and motivation.
Have you tried taking cold showers and noticed a difference? Let us know over on Twitter.
