You have probably heard of athletes plunging themselves in an ice bath as a form of cold therapy to speed up recovery and ease muscle soreness. But did you know that a cold shower can benefit your physical and mental health? Let’s dive in and discuss the benefits you may experience by adding a cold shower into your daily routine.
Improve circulation
The circulatory system works to transport oxygenated blood to your organs and tissues to properly function and removes deoxygenated blood and waste products. Therefore, it is necessary to have a healthy circulatory system for your health. When your body experiences colder temperatures your blood has to move faster to regulate your body temperature leading to faster blood circulation.
Improve your mood
The shock of cold water activates your fight or flight response. This reaction will tell your brain to release two hormones: norepinephrine and dopamine. These two related neurotransmitters help regulate your mood and relieve symptoms of depression.
Improve appearance of skin and hair
Hot water can strip your hair and skin from its natural oils. Cold water allows the blood vessels to constrict which can reduce inflammation and puffiness and tighten pores for a more youthful appearance. Similarly to your skin, cold water strengthens the hair cuticle to lock in moisture keeping your hair strong and shiny.
May assist with weight loss
There are two types of fat in the body: brown fat and white fat. Brown fat's main function is to turn food into body heat. When your body is exposed to cold temperatures, your body then starts working harder to keep you warm. Therefore, your body is using more energy which may result in weight loss.
Get started with testing the benefits of a cold shower by incorporating brief bursts of cold water. If you are interested in building more healthy habits be sure to check out more blogs on the Living Juice website.