Many of us go through our daily bathroom routine without a second thought. We are either in a hurry to go somewhere or too busy planning for the day ahead to think too long and hard about it. Plus, it’s become a daily habit. For most of us, taking a shower is automatic. It’s something we need to do in the morning (or at night) without really considering why we do it or why we should.
We aren’t conscious of the fact that taking showers is not only for cleansing our body; it serves as a great time to slow down, let everything go, calm down, and totally relax. We don’t usually think that this activity can be extremely beneficial for our mind and our body.
Generally, there are two types of people who take daily showers – those who see it as a ‘need to just get it done’ and therefore do the process perfunctorily and as fast as possible, and there are those who relish the experience, pampering themselves under the relaxing gush of water.
Whatever type you are, showering is still part of your daily routine. However, are you that person that ever considers the benefits of showering beyond hygiene? Especially, the benefits of taking cold showers?
Here’s how they can be of benefit to your mind and body.
Kicks Unhappiness Out The Window
Cold showers help relieve depression. This is because of the powerful effect of cold receptors in the skin that transmit a large number of electrical impulses from the external nerve endings to the brain. This generates an anti-depressive effect and lifts sagging dispositions, benefiting the outcome of your entire day.
Makes You More Alert
Taking a cold shower and having cold water streaming down your body is very invigorating. It increases the heart rate which releases a blast of body fluid/plasma through your entire body. This will give you a natural dose of energy for the day.
Enhances Hair and Skin Appearance
One of the best natural ways of preserving appearance is with cold showers. With hot water, your skin gets dried out; with cold water, your cuticles and pores tighten up preventing them from getting blocked. Cold water acts as a “stopper” for the pores in the skin and the scalp, helping stop dirt from getting in.
Improves Immunity and Boosts Blood Flow
The cold, whether it be the weather or cold water, encourages circulation by pushing the blood around the entire body to keep it warm and all extremities alive. This can aid in handling skin and heart-related problems. When cold water hits the body, the arteries pump blood and oxygen more efficiently, improving your total health.
Triggers the Metabolism and Helps with Fat Loss
Cold water poured on the body can help with fat loss. That doesn’t mean that all excess weight will disappear if you shower in cold water. However, the cold water triggers the metabolizing of the body’s ‘brown fat’ to generate heat in order to keep it warm.
Cold temperatures can increase fat burning, but will be less effective if you have just eaten simple carbohydrates. This is because the body will use that to stay warm in preference to breaking down body fat.
A Natural ‘Negativity Breaker’
The challenge of a cold shower can be very intimidating. However, if you can surmount this challenge very early in the morning, it will give you the feeling of “winning over a conquest,” which can serve as a morale booster for the entire day. Having this positive mindset before you go out of your house can help you “do the impossible” at work or wherever you may be for the whole day.
So are you ready to take the plunge and start having cold showers? If you do, watch your health improve!
