I stumbled upon something important after a good cold shower and i would like you to know too- I find cold shower to be a good stress reliever- very cooling and relaxing. Taking a cold shower helps to increase energy and well being. The cold rush on your skin helps to get your blood pumping through your heart and body. It helps to keep you alert in the morning when you wake up.
- It helps to improve circulation in the body by causing blood to move up into your organs to keep them warm thereby improving your overall cardiovascular health. You can alternate between hot and cold water while you shower (hot water reverses the effect by causing blood to move up towards the skin surface). This stimulation will help to keep you healthier and younger looking- an anti-aging secret.
- Cold water helps to speed up recovery time from fatigue after a strenuous exercise and work. Whether the science supports the ice bath theory or not, many athletes swear that an ice bath after intense sport training helps them recover faster, prevent injury and just feel better. Also drinking cold water after exercise can help with weight loss.
- Cold water keeps the skin and hair healthy. It helps to close the skin pores. It helps to protect the hair cuticle. Cold water doesn’t strip oils from skin as much as hot water will.
- Cold shower could help relieve “sad blues” or depression: by stimulating the brain’s primary source of noradrenalin called the” blue spot”. It also helps to keep your anxiety attacks down.
- Cold bath helps to strengthen the body’s immunity to infection: According to a study done in 1993 by the Thrombosis Research Institute in England, individuals who took daily cold showers saw an increase in the number of virus fighting white blood cells compared to individuals who took hot showers. Researchers believe that the increased metabolic rate, which results from the body’s attempt to warm itself up, activates the immune system and releases more white blood cells in response.
- It helps to lower the body’s temperature in fever cases: Sometimes when people have fever they will take cold shower or have a cold towel wrap placed on their body to reduce high body temperature. I’m a believer it works but exercise caution in some case to prevent cold.
- Cold water also helps to relieve Headaches and tension in the head.
- It helps to increase testosterone and sexually libido: In the 19th century, cold water was recommended to help men whack off sexual frustration but they were wrong because cold water does the opposite as it increases blood flow into organs including your sexual organs. Hop into a cold water showers to increase your testosterone production. Increased testosterone levels not only boost a man’s libido, but also his overall strength and energy level.
- Taking cold shower can help to increase infertility: “if your temperature is too high, bud your testes are hurting”. The testes hangs outside the body to avoid extreme body temperature that decrease sperm count. In a study at the University of California at San Francisco men who were exposed to 30 minutes of “wet heat” (hot baths and such) a week. After the “wet heat” was stopped their sperm count went up by 491%, and their sperm’s motility improved as well. It is wise for men who plan to have baby to avoid constant hot baths.
Warning: When you turn on the cold water, at a first drop your body will feel shiver; to avoid this “early morning cold water drama” start it gradually by turning the temp of the water so your body can adjust.
People with health condition such as heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, high blood pressure etc should avoid cold water useless advised by your trusted health doctor because your body may not be able to handle the shock caused by the cold water.
Avoid cold water if you feeling feverish (cold chills) because your blood vessels need to dilate in order to release heat. Cold water will do the opposite by constricting your blood vessels causing more chills and possibly trauma from the cold. Obviously, if you live up in arctic or cold region it is not advised to take cold shower unless your home environment is warm enough to help your body adjust it’s temperature.
Take cold shower only when you feel your body is healthy or fit- up to the task- can handle it.
Do not soak yourself in ice, it is not wise even for a healthy body.
How to heal your body using cold water therapy:
- Start off with the hot water.
- Wash your skin and hair with some invigorating soap
- When you’re ready to rinse, turn it down from cold to colder at your comfort.
- Your body will adjust as you wipe your skin.
Note: If you prefer alternating hot and cold baths, the most common method includes one minute in a cold tub (10-15 degrees Celsius) and two minutes a hot tub (about 37-40 degrees Celsius), repeated about 3 times.
Author: Onyinye A
0 comments :
Post a Comment
If you like what you have read or would like to suggest something new, please don't forget to comment below.