### The Undeniable Health Benefits of Cold Showers
The wellness world is always brimming with intriguing health trends. From yoga and Pilates to green smoothie detoxes and intermittent fasting, there is always something to explore for those striving to optimize their physical and mental health. Today, we’re diving into a practice that has been putting a chill up people’s spine in a surprisingly beneficial turn of events: cold showers.
Contrary to what you might initially think, this practice isn’t merely a form of self-inflicted torture. Recent science-backed findings have demonstrated that switching from warm showers to cold ones could have several mental and physical health benefits. Let’s unpack these!
#### 1. Boosts Mood and Alertness
Refreshing. Invigorating. These are some terms you often hear from people who swear by cold showers. But is there any scientific basis for these claims?
Indeed, there is. Decidedly chilly showers can increase your alertness by causing an uptick in heart rate, blood circulation, and oxygen intake, according to a 2016 study published in PLoS ONE[^1^]. The endorphins released in response to the cold temperature might also help improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression.
#### 2. Enhances Skin and Hair
As enjoyable as steamy showers can be, they can also strip your skin and hair of their natural oils, leading to dryness and a dull appearance. According to dermatologists, cold water helps in tightening the pores on your skin and scalp, preventing dirt from getting in[^2^]. It can also make your hair appear shinier, stronger, and healthier.
#### 3. Strengthens Immunity
A study conducted in the Netherlands[^3^] found that people who took daily cold showers reported a 29% reduction in sickness absenteeism from work. Cold showers can boost your white blood cell count, which helps fight off infections.
#### 4. Speeds Up Muscle Recovery
Athletes are well versed in the benefits of cold therapies for muscle recovery. A 2010 systematic review[^4^] found that immersion in cold water can help reduce muscle soreness after physical activities. By constricting blood vessels and reducing metabolic activity, cold showers help decrease swelling and tissue breakdown.
#### 5. Aids Weight Loss
When your body is exposed to cold temperature, it burns more calories to try to maintain its core temperature. It also stimulates the production of brown fat, a type of fat that generates heat and burns calories. According to a 2014 study[^5^], frequent cold exposure can help with weight loss.
Taking the plunge into the world of cold showers might seem intimidating, but the numerous health benefits it brings could well be worth the initial discomfort. Remember, you don’t have to start with freezing temperatures. Gradually decrease the temperature over time, and before you know it, you’ll become a cold shower convert paving the way toward better health.
[^1^]: Shevchuk, N. A. (2008). Adapted cold shower as a potential treatment for depression. Medical Hypotheses, 70(5), 995-1001.
[^2^]: Yosipovitch, G., Xiong, G. L., Haus, E., Sackett-Lundeen, L., Ashkenazi, I., & Maibach, H. I. (1998). Time-dependent variations of the skin barrier function in humans: Transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and skin temperature. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 110(1), 20-23.
[^3^]: Buijze, G. A., Sierevelt, I. N., van der Heijden, B. C., Dijkgraaf, M. G., & Frings-Dresen, M. H. (2016). The effect of cold showering on health and work: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE, 11(9), e0161749.
[^4^]: Versey, N. G., Halson, S. L., & Dawson, B. T. (2013). Water immersion recovery for athletes: Effect on exercise performance and practical recommendations. Sports Medicine, 43(11), 1101-1130.
[^5^]: Poher, A-L., Altirriba, J., Veyrat-Durebex, C., & Rohner-Jeanrenaud, F. (2015). Brown adipose tissue activity as a target for the treatment of obesity/insulin resistance. Frontiers in Physiology, 6, 4.
