Benefits of Cold Showers

A lot of people like a chilled out morning before work. A tasty breakfast, juice, morning TV and a nice warm shower. If you told people that you like to have cold showers in the morning they might think you’ve gone slightly mad.
 
However, Surprisingly enough, cold showers potentially have a lot of health benefits.
 

Endorphins

 
Cold showers are a bit of a shock to the system. Bit tired in the mornings? Well, this will certainly wake you up. But, it’s a bit more complicated then just saying, “of course it wakes you up, it’s freezing!”
 
When the cold water hits your body you start releasing endorphins. Endorphins interact with receptors in the brain helping to reduce pain and increase pleasure; leaving you with a feeling of well-being and happiness.
 
Cold showers can literally give you more energy, make you more focused and make you more happy.
 

Muscles and pain

 
When a sports person is injured, what is usually the first thing we see the medic do? Put ice on the injury.
 
Applying cold to skin increases blood flow which can help aid in recovery. Cold showers are fantastic after a tough work-out and can really help your muscles recover quickly, health experts have claimed.
 
Athletes will often have an “ice bath” to help recovery after practice or performance. A cold shower is simply a less extreme version of the “ice bath.”
 

 

Strengthen your Immune System

 
Studies have shown that people are less likely to call in sick at work if they are taking cold showers daily. Could it be possible that cold showers can make your immune system better? Apparently, yes.
 
Cold water hitting out bodies stimulates Leukocytes. Leukocytes are white blood cells that “..counteracts foreign substances and disease..” They can help fight against all sorts of things in your body including:
 
– Bacteria,
– Fungi,
– Parasites,
– Natural Killer Cells (virus infected and tumor cells)
 

Facing the Cold Shower Challenge

 

 
It’s no secret: taking a cold shower is fairly unpleasant. However, what many people don’t realise is that’s a big part of the reason for doing it.
 
When you turn on the shower and see the cold water running, your body is telling you not to go anywhere near it. Taking a cold shower is not a comfortable experience and our brain likes us to be comfortable. A little battle begins between the part of your brain that likes to relax and the part of your brain that wants to be a boss.
 
You’ll hesitate and be slightly scared. You might even take a deep breath before taking the leap in to the shower. Eventually, you’ll conquer the small voice in your head, leave your comfort zone and feel the unpleasantness of the cold.
 
It’s the same feeling you have when you have something scary to do. And I don’t mean staying the night at a haunted hotel. I’m talking about approaching a person you fancy, public speaking or trying something potentially dangerous for the first time (like driving a motorbike).
 
Your brain will remember this. It was scared about approaching this challenge. However, you did face the challenge and everything turned out fine. Good, in fact. You’ll definitely be feeling amazing after the shower.
 
The next time you have a challenge in front of you, your brain will be more willing to face the challenge head on like you did with the cold shower. You’ll be feeling less scared and anxious about what you are about to do.
 
The cold showers are retraining your brain to want to take on challenges that make you uncomfortable.