Cold shower hype

[Just Crouton]

Saw this on DGz.

 

Source: http://wakeup-world.com/2012/04/11/ten-health-benefits-of-cold-showers/

 

By Jordan & Kyla Miller

Contributing Writers for Wake Up World

How many of us can actually say that we take regular cold showers? If you’re from a colder climate, the number is likely to be even less. However, cold showers and baths have a long history in many cultures, and for good reason. Vincenz Priessnitz, a farmer in the 1920s, developed and marketed a medical treatment he called hydrotherapy. He sold the concept of using cold water to cure a long list of aliments, and achieved almost instant success. As the 20th century moved along however, the popularity of hydrotherapy began to decline and falter when medical professionals began to rely more on drugs to treat illnesses and the luxury of hot showers began to increase. However, the use of hydrotherapy as a viable medical treatment never completely stopped. Here are 10 of the many reasons why:

 

 

1. Strengthens Immunity

Cold showers are sometimes touted as a preventative tonic for colds, flu, and infections. An experiment in Prague studied the effect of cold water immersions on athletic young men. They immersed themselves in water at 14°C (57°F), three times a week for six weeks. Among many changes, they saw increased levels of two types of white blood cells: monocytes and lymphocytes. While certain lymphocytes are instrumental in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and toxins; monocytes are indirectly responsible for the engulfing and consuming of pathogens and foreign materials. Researchers believe that the increased metabolic rate, which results from the body’s attempt to warm itself up, activates the immune system and releases more white blood cells in response. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that people who take regular cold showers are less likely to develop colds, flu’s, and even some forms of cancer.

 

2. Improves Blood Circulation

Good blood circulation is vital for overall cardiovascular health. Alternating between hot and cold water while showering, is an easy way to improve circulation. When exposed to cold water, our arteries and veins constrict or tighten. This process is called “vasoconstriction”. The tightening helps blood to flow at a higher pressure as now there is less space for the blood to flow, meaning circulation will improve. “Vasodilation”, the opposite effect, and is done when we are exposed to heat. The natural tendency of the body when it is exposed to cold is that your blood rapidly circulates to your vital organs to keep them warm, hence increasing your overall blood circulation. Why should you be conscious of having good circulation? Well, it prevents such problems as hypertension, hardening of the arteries, and the appearance of varicose veins. Good circulation improves the performance of your system and thus help looking and feeling better.

 

3. Regulates Temperature

Cold showers provide a gentle form of stress that leads to thermogenesis (internal generation of body heat), which in turn activates the body’s adaptive repair systems. If you suffer from chronically cold hands and feet, or feel that you sweat an abnormal amount, try a cold shower.

 

4. Promotes Weight Loss / Increases Metabolism

Brown fat, as opposed to white fat is heavily involved in burning energy. Exposure to cold naturally stimulates the production of these brown fats. These cells burn glucose to try and produce as much heat energy as possible. Having a higher amount of brown fat leads to more energy being burned per second and therefore, more weight is lost. As a result of the increased brown fat levels, and the increased blood pressure and body temperature, chemical reactions in the body will happen faster than they would have without regular cold showers. An increased metabolism is what a lot of people seek for because it means that any process in the body will become more efficient; meaning more weight loss will be seen and more growth/repair of muscles and otherwise will be seen.

 

5. Alleviates Depression

Depression is yet another thing that cold showers can help and prevent. Research at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University indicates that cold water has a stimulating effect on the brains “blue spot”, the main source of noradrenaline for our bodies. Noradrenaline is a chemical that might be used to help alleviate depression.

 

6. Improves Lymphatic Movement

The lymphatic system is a system of tubing separate from our blood vessels that is responsible for carrying away waste from your cells as well as help fight pathogens (disease). Unlike blood vessels, the lymphatic system does not have blood, it has lymph, which carries away waste products and white blood cells which handle infection. Also different from blood vessels is that the heart does not pump lymph around the body like it does the blood. The lymph relies on the contraction of muscles. This contraction squeezes the lymph up to the thoracic duct so that the lymph can mix with the blood and then be dealt with by organs. Cold showers cause whole-body contraction and this works excellently with the lymph system, squeezing the fluid up through the body. If the lymphatic system is compromised and not efficient, then the fluid pools at faraway places (usually the feet). This results in what is known as lymphedema (a type of edema).

 

7. Deepens Breathing

What you will notice as an effect of cold showers is that you begin inhaling very deeply. This is to try and combat the stress of the shock, the vasoconstriction and the overall need for oxygen to respire and keep oneself warm. This process opens up the lungs much like strenuous physical exercise does and results in a higher average intake of oxygen, which is good for many things like not feeling tired during the day and doing better at sport or other exercises.

 

8. Keeps Skin and Hair Healthy

It is well known that hot water dries out our skin and hair. On the other hand, cold water can make our hair look shinier and our skin look healthier by tightening cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged, thus reducing blemishes like acne. Cold water also contributes to detoxification which results in the squeezing of toxins and waste products out of the skin. This detoxification has a good effect on the skin which appears more clean and young. Additionally, the cold water closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger and prevents dirt from easily accumulating within our scalp. Stronger hair, of course, prevents hair from easily falling out and it helps in slowing down overall hair loss.

 

9. Increases Energy and Wellbeing

There are plenty of mental benefits to ending your shower with cold water. The ancient samurai warriors used to pour buckets of cold river water on their heads every morning in a Shinto practice called Misogi. This was a purification ritual on a spiritual level. They believe that it cleansed their spirit and helped start a fresh new day. A cold shower can definitely leave one feeling invigorated and energized. The heart starts pumping, and the rush of blood through the body helps shake off the lethargy of the previous night’s sleep. Additionally, while there are not many studies to confirm, many people swear that cold showers are a definite stress reducer.

 

10. Increases Hormone Production

Cold water showers have the ability to increase hormone production and activity by giving the body’s glands a boost. For example, cold showers can be of great benefit to the reproductive system when trying to conceive a child. A man’s testes are not meant to get too hot; that’s why they hang outside of a man’s body. Sperm counts decrease when the temperature of a man’s testes increases. In fact, experiments done in the 1950s showed that hot baths were an effective contraceptive. Men who took a 30 minute hot bath every other day for 3 weeks were infertile for the next six months. More recently, the University of California at San Francisco did a study with men who were exposed to 30 minutes of “wet heat” (hot baths, saunas and such) a week. When the men cut this exposure out, their sperm count went up by 491%, and their sperm’s motility improved as well. While switching from a hot to cold shower may not have as dramatic an effect, if you’re trying to reproduce, it surely won’t hurt. Furthermore, it has been said that cold water therapy helps regulate the endocrine system (including the adrenals and thyroid).

 

How to Start

Gradually adjusting from hot to cold showers is recommended. For many, a drastic change in temperature would be too much a stress to their body. Push yourself to step outside your comfort zone, while at the same time listen to what your body can handle. A great way to implement cold showers into your daily routine is by turning the water to cold for the last 30 seconds to a minute of your shower. Give it a try and see what benefits you experience. Who knows, maybe the secret to the fountain of youth is hidden within cold showers.

 

Your question(s): Are you open to the idea of taking a cold shower? What about a polar ice dip? (post your comments below)

[Maeriberii Haan]

I take cold showers every day, in a mountainous area.

 

I don't think I get that much benefit from it though.

[Captain Murphy ☆]

Almost took a cold shower one day, but it got cold.

It stays pretty cold here in Michigan...

[Maeriberii Haan]

I took cold showers in 5 AM here where it's like 10 Celcius outside, yet I am still an unhealthy girl.

[~ P O L A R I S ~]

Unjust:

And yet I was choking in my heart, and was longing

to confound all these with contrary maxims. For I have
been called among the deep thinkers the "worse cause" on
this very account, that I first contrived how to speak
against both law and justice; and this art is worth more
than ten thousand staters, that one should choose the
worse cause, and nevertheless be victorious. But mark
how I will confute the system of education on which he
relies, who says, in the first place, that he will not
permit you to be washed with warm water. And yet, on
what principle do you blame the warm baths?

Just:

Because it is most vile, and makes a man cowardly.

Unjust:

Stop! For immediately I seize and hold you by the
waist without escape. Come, tell me, which of the sons
of Jupiter do you deem to have been the bravest in soul,
and to have undergone most labours?

Just:

I consider no man superior to Hercules.

Unjust:

Where, pray, did you ever see cold Herculean baths?
And yet, who was more valiant than he?

 

FOR GREAT JUSTACE!

 

Seriously though, much science was dropped in that article. I'm living in Toronto and it's February, but even so, it's some pretty substantial hype. Plus there's that heat bill and whatnot amirite?

[evilfusion]

I remember when I was younger, I used to enjoy steadily decreasing the shower temperature throughout the shower. Never a sudden shift, just gradual shifts until I got used to the reduced temp, then drop it another notch. It was oddly enjoyable.

 

I decided to try it again after reading this. Still very enjoyable. I believe it has many of the mentioned benefits.

[goddamnit names are a pain]

I shower hot for the first twenty minutes and then occasionally let the cold water that is now coming out instead of hot soothe me for the next 20+ minutes. Not really cold, but its a huge drop from hot....cool ish.

 

Straight up cold? Nah, not yet. Its too much like ice up the butt in the middle of winter while being stark naked.

[Simping For Hina]

Hot shower into a cold shower. Pores matter and need to be clean. Best way to do that is with a hot shower. The cold shower closes them and does all of that

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

I shower hot for the first twenty minutes and then occasionally let the cold water that is now coming out instead of hot soothe me for the next 20+ minutes. Not really cold, but its a huge drop from hot....cool ish.

 

Straight up cold? Nah, not yet. Its too much like ice up the butt in the middle of winter while being stark naked.

 

... you spend 40 minutes in the shower?

 

I always think I'm being unnessecary and wasteful at 10. =/

 

Anyway on topic: seems reasonable about the breathing, hair and pores things at least, although I find the stuff about alleviating depression and the other psychological benefits a little hard to believe. You can promote anything and pass it off with scientific 'evidence' about how it's good/bad for you. I dunno, maybe I'll try it and see how it works. I just am cold enough when I wake up, and it's hard to remember this sort of thing first thing in the morning. :(

[goddamnit names are a pain]

... you spend 40 minutes in the shower?

 

I always think I'm being unnessecary and wasteful at 10. =/

I sometimes do. I always do around 20, and if I have time and the water doesn't go to ice (our shower goes cold at 20 minutes....every time.....no mater how much hot water you used....), which is quite iffy in it of itself. It's how I relax often, and get thinking done. Weird right?

[Maeriberii Haan]

Not really. I usually spend around 20-60 minutes on the shower. Really relaxing, if you ask me. Also, cold shower-wise, is there any dangers to it?

[goddamnit names are a pain]

Not really. I usually spend around 20-60 minutes on the shower. Really relaxing, if you ask me. Also, cold shower-wise, is there any dangers to it?

Hypothermia while stark naked.

[Maeriberii Haan]

That...is quite a problem, though I was never sure about the healthy bar for cold showers. I'm asking this since I'm pretty much have taken cold showers daily as I've said, and I barely felt any of the stated benefits.

[goddamnit names are a pain]

That...is quite a problem, though I was never sure about the healthy bar for cold showers. I'm asking this since I'm pretty much have taken cold showers daily as I've said, and I barely felt any of the stated benefits.

I was kinda joking. But being too cold is never a good thing. You may experience more benefits if you are more active, IDK.

Boosts metabolism? If my metabolism were any faster I would eat every five minutes. =D

[Maeriberii Haan]

Well, I bike to work almost everyday, so that's something I guess.

[Lunar Origins]

God damnit I love hot showers, but they're so unhealthy ;-;

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Well I tried it this morning with the hot>cold thing. And it wasn't too bad.

 

Would be nice if I had a warmer bathroom to step out of into though :(

 

I think I'll wait til spring before doing it as a regular thing.

[Lt. Colonel Remo]

Well if it's after a workout/game then I usually pick ultra cold, but usually my showers are borderline scalding

 

As in my skin gets kinda red afterwards xD

 

I used to switch from ultra hot to ultra cold just for fun, but that was back when I read Robert Crais and I thought Joe Pike was the definition of a man.

[Tentacruel]

I like to wash in hot, then rinse off in cold.  It's much easier to go from hot to cold than just jump into freezing water. 

[Rapidfire]

I really like cold showers, but I also like hot baths. I can never decide. 

[Agro]

Finnish Baths are much better.

 

You sit in a sauna for a while until your pores open up.

 

Then you run outside naked and jump into a frozen lake.

 

 

As for cold showers, I don't prefer them, but I'd think cooling it down right before stepping out would be beneficial just because of how chilly it can be.

[Rapidfire]

Finnish Baths are much better.

 

You sit in a sauna for a while until your pores open up.

 

Then you run outside naked and jump into a frozen lake.

 

 

As for cold showers, I don't prefer them, but I'd think cooling it down right before stepping out would be beneficial just because of how chilly it can be.

 

You can literally die from that. 

[Agro]

You can literally die from that. 

Not if you do it right.

[Rapidfire]

Not if you do it right.

 

You can also jump of a cliff and not die if you do it right, but is that really a chance you'll take?

[goddamnit names are a pain]

Don't forget the chance that you don't die right.

 

Still liking Hot more than cold with showers. It feels better on the muscles, IMO.