Why, oh why would I want to stand under freezing cold water instead of my wonderful warm shower?

Whether it is Wim Hof, elite athletes or TV doctors they are all recommending we turn the dial down on the shower and experience the exhilarating feeling of the cold – so why should we.

There are numerous benefits of having a cold shower, some with more evidence than others but unless you have some medical conditions it isn’t going to hurt (if in doubt check with a medical professional first).

At the end of the blog I will give you a few tips on how to start but first let me go through the benefits:-

• Pain Relief – cold has anaesthetic effects (think ice pack on recently banged head) – the cold constricts the blood vessels, reduces swelling and inflammation and is thought to slow the rate at which pain signals are received by the brain. (Note: cold should be used only for the short term as we want the brain to send the correct signals back to the body to assist in the longer term healing process – but this is a story for another day).

• Assist Recovery – after a workout or strenuous exercise you need to get more oxygen into the body to help you recover. A cold shower will cause vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels) which essentially forces the blood where it needs it most – the vital organs, meaning fresh oxygen and nutrients in the right areas. As we saw with pain relief it also helps reduce inflammation, reducing those aches and pains and assisting recovery.

• Increased Alertness – a cold shower will come as a bit of a shock to your body! When the body comes under stress the body can go into fight or flight mode which can make you feel more focused and alert.

• Support Weight Loss – now this isn’t the answer to your dieting conundrum but can support weight loss as an overall healthier lifestyle. Cold exposure can help improve your metabolism and have an effect on your gut bacteria which can help burn fat more efficiently. Studies are limited and more data is needed but some promising signs and worth a try.

• Boost your Mental Health – as we have seen the cold activates the sympathetic nervous system to produce fight or flight response – so we are seeing an increase in signals being sent to the brain which in turn can release hormones which may help relieve some of the symptoms of depression.

• Improve your skin – cold water is great for the skin – how refreshed are we when we splash cold water on our face in the morning. When the cold water hits our face, the skin’s pores shrink which can help the overall appearance and texture of the skin. As we have seen it also reduces inflammation and as we will see next boost our immune system – so reducing the lifespan of those annoying spots.

• Boost your Immune System – still early days on this benefit but supposedly the body increases its metabolic rate due to the cold shock which causes the body to accelerate its functions to compensate. One study showed almost 30% of participants were less likely to call in sick if they took cold showers daily.

• Reduce Stress – cold water shock triggered a reduction in the release of cortisol ‘the stress producing hormone’.

• Heart Health – similar to pain relief the cold causes the blood vessels to constrict, which promotes blood flow – improved circulation leads to improved cardiovascular health. (Important Note: if you have heart problems speak to a medical professional before taking cold showers).

Now with all these benefits it is worth considering whether taking a cold shower every day will benefit you. However, each and everyone of us is different and may respond differently so it is up to you as an individual to see if a cold shower is for you.

Top TIps

From a personal perspective, everytime I have a shower the temperature control gets switched to cold at some point and below are a few tips I used to get into the habit.

• Start with your normal routine – a nice warm shower, but just as you are finishing, turn the temperature down slightly and let the cooler water run over your hands and feet for 15 to 30 seconds.
• Progress from your hands and feet to your whole body – in my experience the worst bit is on the back of the shoulders.
• Slowly reduce the temperature – don’t go full ice cold too early.
• When you are getting to a point where the water is getting cold rather than lukewarm – spend a bit longer acclimatising your hands, feet, legs and arms before taking the plunge with the head and torso.
• When you feel brave enough to immerse your full body, just do it for short periods…start with 15 seconds and build up. 

And the most important tip……

• If you want to dive into this experience – start now – in the summer – the cold water coming out of the tap now is a lot warmer during the summer months.

I can tell you – in February when it is sub zero outside the water is a lot colder than it is now – however, the experience is so much more refreshing when the water is well and truly ice cold!!!!!!

Enjoy and let me know how you get on.

Thanks for reading.

Paul

Note: This information is based on limited research and my own experiences. Therefore, as mentioned, due to each and everyone’s individuality, benefits and ill effects may vary and you are responsible for your own actions.

Please take advice from a medical professional if you have any doubts.