Gaby
Research from several countries over decades has shown that cold exposure can benefit our health.
Cold Boosts the Immune System
Turning cold water on during a shower for at least 30 seconds can strengthen your immune system. The shock of cold water stimulates white blood cells, which fight infections.
A 2016 Dutch study found that people who added cold water to their bathing routines took less sick leave.
Researchers enrolled more than 3,000 participants aged 18 to 65 who typically preferred warm showers. For three months, volunteers were encouraged to turn on cold water in the shower for 30, 60, or 90 seconds. As a result, they experienced 29 percent fewer illnesses compared to those who stuck with warm water.
Supports Weight Management
Taking a cold shower every morning can even help maintain your figure—if it makes you shiver afterward. This is linked to thermogenesis, the process by which the body generates heat and burns calories.
A team from the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands) studied this effect. Researchers observed 24 adults taking showers at 7:45 AM and 7:45 PM. During the experiment, the water temperature was gradually lowered until participants began to shiver, typically reaching a low of 9 °C.
The results indicated that under low temperatures, volunteers burned more calories. There was no difference in energy expenditure between morning and evening showers for women, while men tended to burn calories primarily during their morning showers.
Researchers from Aston University in Birmingham (UK) say that exercising outdoors in cold weather promotes significant calorie burning and weight loss because the body increases metabolism in cold conditions.
Supports Heart Health
Exercising in cold weather may require less physical effort, so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard as it does on warmer days. Researchers from St. Mary’s University in London found that cold temperatures reduce a runner’s heart rate by six percent.
That effect can help improve the body’s endurance.
“At lower temperatures, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard, you sweat less, and expend less energy, which means you can train more effectively,” said Dr. Adam Tenforde from the Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard.
Reduces Depression and Alleviates Stress
A cold shower may not sound appealing, but it can improve your mood.
A 2007 study at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) found that cold exposure can ease symptoms of depression. Cold temperatures activate the nervous system and increase blood flow to the brain, which leads to a release of norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter can have a positive effect on mood, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Other studies have shown a spike in dopamine levels after exposure to cold water; dopamine is sometimes called the “pleasure hormone.”
Some medical professionals even recommend swimming in cold open water as a treatment for depression.
A 2004 Finnish study found that stress levels drop sharply after immersion in cold water. The team surveyed 82 participants about their mood and well-being before and after winter swimming outdoors. Researchers found that stress levels decreased significantly and that volunteers’ memory and mood improved compared to a control group that did not swim.
The team explained this by noting that cold water triggers the release of norepinephrine and also provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
