When you think of a nice, relaxing shower, how do you imagine it? Probably nice and warm, with relaxing steam and aromatherapy body wash, right? You probably imagine it being ANYTHING but freezing cold. Frigid showers sound like they’d be anything but pleasant, however studies have shown that there are some surprising benefits to turning the heat down every once and a while.

James Bond fans will remember that Bond’s infamous shower routine concludes with him turning his warm shower cold for the last 15-20 seconds, something which is affectionately known as a “Scottish shower”. It might sound crazy, but if James Bond does it, how crazy could it be?

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t be afraid to shiver in the shower every once and a while.

1. Burning Fat

It sounds like a crazy weight loss regiment, like something you’d hear on a 4 a.m. infomercial, but it’s true: taking cold showers can help you burn fat.

There are two kinds of fat in your body: white fat and brown fat. White fat is the body fat we all know and struggle to get rid of; the kind we acquire from eating excess calories, which tends to accumulate at your waist, lower back, neck, and thighs. Brown fat is the good guy you might have never even heard of, and its function is to generate heat to keep your body warm.

Well, brown fat is activated when your body is cold. It helps your body go into survival mode when you’re chilly and burn calories to keep you warm. Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to cold temperatures increased the metabolic rate of brown fat by fifteen fold, which could help a person drop nine pounds in a year if sustained.

3. Increase Your Mood and Alertness

Face it, nothing is going to wake you up in the morning like an ice-cold shower. And there’s actually a scientific reason for that jolt you get when cold water gets poured onto you.

When cold water pours over your body, your breathing deepens in response to the shock of the cold (to keep you warm by increasing your oxygen intake).Your heart rate will also increase, resulting in a rush of blood through your body that will help you get energized for the day.

4. Strengthen Immunity and Circulation

Studies have shown that cold showers increase your overall blood circulation, which is all around good for your body; excellent blood circulation is great for avoiding hypertension and the hardening of arteries, which can lead to heart disease. Not only that, but boosting your metabolic rate in cold showers (which is why you lose weight) also boosts your immune system. An increased metabolism will release more virus-fight white blood cells and help you get sick less frequently.

5. Healthy Hair and Skin

Anyone struggling with acne is probably using to “clearing out their pores” in a nice warm shower, but this can actually make pimples worsen. Hot water dries out your skin, while cold water tightens your cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged. So if you’re breaking out, turn that shower knob the other way.

Cold water also closes your hair cuticles, making it less likely dirt can accumulate in your scalp. This means chilly showers will leave your hair cleaner, shinier, glossier, and overall more lovely.

 

What do you think of these arguments for the occasional cold shower? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.