Cold Showers Change Lives: Fact or Fiction?
In the last few years, I’ve probably seen more cold shower content on social media than I’ve seen Tai Lopez ads. Bathe in ice-cold water every single day without fail and you’ll become a shredded, super-intelligent millionaire in the next 2 years. Right? Well, not so fast. Let’s find out if there is any method to the madness, or if it is just that, madness.
Why cold showers?
If long-term practitioners of cold showers are to be believed, cold showers can help regulate everything, from your mood to your blood circulation and even your mental strength. Let’s take a look at these claims.
(Apparent) Physiological Benefits.
Some of the physiological benefits of cold showers are
- Boosted Immunity Cold Showers can help drain out your lymphatic system. When this system is blocked, symptoms such as joint pain and frequent colds are observed. Cold showers can help flush the fluid in the lymph nodes thereby boosting an individual's immunity. Cold showers can also simulate adrenaline production which has Anti -Inflammatory properties.
- Improved Circulation Cold showers force our bodies to work harder to achieve homeostasis. Over time this process can help improve blood circulation. This may cause some people to report that their skin looks better as a result of cold showers.
- Reduced Inflammation Similar to the way athletes use an ice bath for recovery, cold showers help reduce inflammation in the body and manage the symptoms of DOMS (Delayed onset muscle soreness).
- Increased Virility and Fertility Cold showers can increase testosterone and thus boost libido and fertility in men.
(Apparent) Psychological benefits.
- Increased alertness Cold showers have certain similar benefits to electroshock therapy. It can help jolt someone awake, increase alertness and clarity by sending electrical impulses to your brain.
- Improved mood An improvement in general mood and depression may be observed. Cold showers help the body produce endorphins that contribute to a generalized feeling of well-being.
- Reduced stress Hydrotherapy reduces the levels of cortisol in our blood, thereby reducing stress.
- Higher willpower Stepping into icy water first thing in the morning isn't always a pleasant experience. These showers may help you become more resilient over time.
Does research support the claims?
Yes, and no. It depends. While certain claims seem to have solid scientific evidence backing them up, others definitely need to be looked into. This 2007 study shows some evidence disproving the claim that cold showers stimulate an increase in testosterone. Rather they may reduce testosterone in the short term. This doesn’t necessarily disprove the claim that cold showers can result in increased fertility. It’s entirely possible that this increase comes as a result of the lack of prolonged heat, which can reduce sperm count. Additionally, according to a study related to Wim Hof’s cold exposure and breathing techniques, cold environments might boost immunity and stimulate adrenaline production. Cold showers might also be helpful for mood management, soreness and pain, although more research is needed.
My experience with cold showers
For years I showered in warm water. Being from an athletic background i found that it seemed to alleviate soreness a little bit. After watching people like the Iceman, Wim Hof, and Rickson Gracie – a pioneer in the world of martial arts – talk about their experiences with cold water immersion I decided to give it a shot. Hated it. Well, at least that was the case at first. But I decided to stick with it and over the past 2 months, it’s become much easier. I find that taking a cold shower in the mornings really gets me going. It’s helped me fix my sleep cycle and say no to the snooze button. In the evenings, I shower with hot water to start and end cold. I find that this method helps just as much with muscle soreness, if not more. Although I cannot comment on the effects on immunity, I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in mood and clarity.
Conclusion
Suffice to say, there are a lot of benefits to taking cold water showers. But as with most trends, some of these have been blown out of proportion. At the end of the day, cold showers are easy to incorporate for improving one’s general wellbeing. However, definitely consult a doctor if you have pre-existing medical issues before experimenting with them.
Extra Resources:
Meta-Analysis of cold water immersion in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
