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It's not easy, but the benefits can be rewarding

"Tap" by Eelke is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The practice of taking cold showers has become popular... And even though shivering scares away many (especially in winter), the brave enjoy the benefits of increased blood circulation, reduced muscle pain, healthier skin and the effect of awakening . Interestingly, cold showers seem to give supporters a feeling of happiness - research suggesting this effect points to electrical electrical impulses as responsible - they travel from nerve endings to the brain.

Another explanation could be the psychological achievement of stepping into a stream of freezing water after getting out of a warm bed. When looking at the shower and thinking that you don't want to turn on the cold water, but still face it, the individual becomes able to go beyond a situation of comfort, something we always try to avoid in everyday life - overcoming this condition is rewarding.

Take a look at the proven benefits:

1. Improves blood circulation

The water is cooler than the body's natural temperature and this makes the body "try harder" to maintain trunk temperature. When taken regularly, cold showers can make our circulatory system more efficient. If the blood flows better to the head, it works better and stays alert longer. Some people also report that their skin and hair look less brittle and more lush, probably as a result of improved circulation.

Have you ever noticed that athletes use ice when there is some kind of muscle injury? Data collected show that this is the same principle. By lowering the temperature of an area of ​​the body, we speed up the delivery of warmer, more oxygenated blood to the site... and this optimizes the time to recover from the injury. Some people with certain ailments may benefit from cold baths as a way to help blood move through the body more quickly, such as people with poor circulation, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

2. Increases endorphins

Many drugs treat depression depending on the severity or duration of symptoms. One holistic method of treatment that is gaining in popularity is hydrotherapy. Taking a cold shower for up to five minutes, two to three times a week, helped alleviate symptoms of depression in certain patients in a clinical trial.

For people with depression, cold showers can work as a kind of mild electroshock therapy. Cold water sends a lot of electrical impulses to the brain. They shake your system to increase alertness, clarity and energy levels. Endorphins, called happiness hormones, are also released. This effect leads to feelings of well-being and optimism. But if you have depression, you shouldn't replace your treatment with cold baths - just talk it over with your doctor.

3. Speeds up 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 brown fat levels also indicate that white fat is at an acceptable level. And brown fat is activated by exposure to low temperature.

People who are obese cannot simply start taking a cold shower to lose weight without changing other habits (such as starting regular exercise and changing their diet). But taking a cold shower two or three times a week can help speed up your metabolism -- and that, in the long run, can help fight obesity. Research on the subject has failed to come to a conclusion about exactly how cold baths help people to lose weight... Still, it shows that cold water can balance certain hormone levels and aid in the recovery of the gastrointestinal system. These effects can increase the ability of the cold shower to lead to weight loss.

4. Helps to fight common diseases

White blood cells help fight infections in the body. The shock of cold water into the bloodstream stimulates white blood cells. This means that taking cold showers can increase resistance to common illnesses such as colds and flu.

One study even indicated that cold showers could make the body more resistant to certain types of cancer. And a clinical trial showed that people who took cold showers had to be absent from work less often.

5. Can improve athletic performance

A study published in American Journal of Physiology found that athletes who use cold water immersion after resistance training are able to handle more exercise during subsequent training sessions, "which could improve long-term training adaptations."

Another study published in Journal of Sports Science and Medicine unveiled that cold water immersion improves recovery after exercise and should be administered as soon as it ends.

6. Decreases spending on water, electricity or gas

Who has never taken a hot, long, reflective bath? But this attitude is not sustainable. A cold shower is usually faster, not to mention that there is no need to heat the water, which reduces the cost of electricity or gas (depending on the shower model).