Although people generally refrain from bathing in cold water, but there are so many benefits of bathing in cold water that you will be surprised to know. A study has revealed that bathing in cold water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit can have health benefits. This method is also called hydrotherapy. It has been used for centuries to make our body adapt to the harsh conditions. As a result, our body becomes more resistant to stress. Cold water is not the main source of treatment for any condition, but they can help you relieve symptoms and improve general health.
Increases endorphin levels
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress affects at least more than 10 percent of adults. Several medications treat stress, depending on the severity or duration of symptoms. One holistic method of treatment that is gaining popularity is hydrotherapy. Taking a 5 minute bath in cool water 2 to 3 times per week has been shown to help relieve symptoms of depression in clinical trials.
For people with depression, cold showers can serve as a kind of gentle electroshock therapy. Cold water sends many electrical impulses to your brain. They give your system a jolt to increase alertness, clarity and energy levels. It also releases endorphins, sometimes called happiness hormones.
improve metabolism
White fat is the fat we associate with conditions like obesity and heart disease, but we are all born with brown fat. Researchers have found that brown fat plays an important role in adult health. Healthy levels of brown fat also indicate that white fat will be at a healthy level and that brown fat is activated by exposure to cold temperatures.
People who are obese cannot start taking cold water bath to lose weight without changing other lifestyle habits. But taking a cold water bath 2 or 3 times a week can help in increasing the metabolism. This can help fight obesity over time. The research is unclear about how cold water helps people lose weight. Nevertheless, it has been shown that cold water can also eliminate certain hormone levels and heal the gastrointestinal system. These effects may add to the potential of cold baths for weight loss.
Improvement in blood circulation
Our bodies may feel uncomfortable in cold water, but it can also be invigorating. This is because water cooler than our body’s natural temperature makes the body work a little harder to maintain its core temperature. When taken regularly, cold showers can make our circulatory system more efficient. Some people also report that their skin looks better as a result of cold showers, perhaps due to better circulation.
Athletes have known this benefit for years, even though we’ve only recently seen data showing the use of cold water for healing after a sports injury. This is the reason why when we have a muscle injury, ice reduces the swelling. By lowering the temperature of an area of the body, we accelerate the circulation of warm, freshly oxygenated blood to that area. People with poor circulation, high blood pressure and diabetes may benefit from taking a cold water bath. Bathing in cold water can help the blood to flow faster in their body.
Helps fight common diseases
Our bodies are designed to become resistant to the elements we are exposed to. For example, leukocytes help the body fight infections. The shock of cold water into the bloodstream stimulates the leukocytes. This means that taking a cold shower can help boost your immunity against common illnesses like colds and flu.
One study even indicated that cold showers may make the body more resistant to certain types of cancer. A clinical trial in the Netherlands showed that people who took a cold shower took less time off from work. People who are preparing for surgery or other disease treatment, which can lead to a decrease in immunity, they can start taking cold water bath.
Limitations and Risks
Taking a cold water bath is not a magic cure for any condition. They should be used as a supplement to conventional treatment, but not permanently. Keep doing the treatment you are doing for your disease and keep taking cold water therapy as well. Surely you will get relief from this soon.
Please remember that people taking medication for their mental health should not abruptly stop their medication for an alternative treatment. People with long-term clinical depression or diagnosis of Bipolar or Borderline Personality should not under any circumstances use cold showers as instructed by their doctor.
If you’re feeling sick, recently discharged from the hospital, or have any other problems, wait to use a cold shower. While the habit of bathing with cold water is beneficial for most people, it takes time for some to get used to it.
The ideal way to take a cold water bath
Begin by slowly lowering the temperature at the end of a normal shower. Make the water cold enough that you start to feel uncomfortable. Then, stay under the water for 2 or 3 minutes. Taking deep breaths will reduce restlessness in your mind. The next time you do this exercise, cool the water down a bit. Try staying in cold water for a minute or two. After doing this activity 7 to 10 times, you will find that you will gradually reduce the use of hot water.