The heat is pretty brutal these days, with all of us struggling to remain cool and comfortable in these weather conditions.
While it may not seem like an ideal way to pamper yourself, surprisingly, cold showers have beauty benefits and can be good for you! How convenient because not only can you cool down from this hot weather, but you’ll be giving yourself a cold refreshing rinse that will do wonders for you! Here’s how.
Cold showers help you burn fat
You heard us right – apparently Scandinavian researchers found that cold showers increases your metabolic rate and helps your body burn fat.
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Cold showers boost recovery after exercise
Elite athletes often take ice baths to help them recover after an intense workout. Perhaps just a cold shower will suffice for our standards, and it helps reduce muscle soreness.
A 2009 study analyzing 17 trials involved over 360 people who either rested or immersed themselves in cold water after resistance training, cycling, or running. It found that 24-minute cold water baths were effective in relieving sore muscles one to four days after exercises with a water temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.
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Strengthens your immune system
By releasing more white blood cells due to an increase metabolic rate from the cold showers, you are strengthening your immune system. You also improve blood circulation to your body overall.
They are great for your hair and skin
Hot water or warm showers dry out your skin, cold water tightens your pores which prevents them from getting clogged with oil and grime. It also helps close the cuticles of your hair which means less frizz and more shine.
Cold showers strip less of our natural oils from our scalp as well, which also translates to healthier hair growth.
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Cold shows are great energy boosters
And for an added boost of energy, try swapping your warm showers in the morning with cold ones instead. Katherine Hepburn, a Hollywood actress, was a fan of cold showers. She began taking them daily after being pushed by Dr. Thomas Norval Hepburn, a urologist and pioneer in social hygiene, The New York Times reported. Katherine would take ice-cold baths or showers during childhood and for the rest of her life — she would advise others to do so as well. The actress swore by cold showers, and had a high energy level to support her claims.
I am definitely one who enjoys the warmer showers especially after a long day and it helps to soothe muscle stiffness. But I’ll definitely be adding cold showers into my routine!
– Cover Image: popsugar.com.au
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