Showering, something everyone does, or at least should do, seems like a moot point. From an early age, we learn that maintaining personal hygiene is important to our health. If you're like most people, you follow a daily morning routine, which consists of showering and/or getting dressed and having breakfast. But showering is actually more beneficial than most give it credit. It helps with clearing the pores of dead skin and debris, relaxation and muscular function. The list of its benefits goes on and on, but would you believe that the practice of showering has sparked a worldwide conversation? Google "benefits of showering" and two results appear, hot benefits versus cold benefits. While taking hot showers is relatively common, the argument for taking cold showers instead is gaining traction and its benefits seem to outweigh that of its counterpart.
Basically, taking cold showers in the morning is beneficial because it alerts your senses and is likened to doing a light workout.
Carl Richards, of the New York Times writes, "A quick trip to Google Scholar will also reveal a smattering of academic papers about the benefits of cold-water therapy, including weight loss stimulation, increased circulation and stress reduction." Taking a cold shower may even serve as a potential antidepressant, according to a 2008 study published by the National Institutes of Health.
"It [taking cold showers] reminds me a little of that Mark Twain saying, 'Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.' I'm not suggesting that taking a cold shower in the morning will make sticking to your budget in the afternoon trivial by comparison. That's not the point. The point is that starting your morning by tackling challenges head-on will help encourage similar behavior throughout the day."
The benefits of cold showering are surprising. Upon conducting a quick Google search, one finds that cold showering also refines hair and skin, improves immunity and circulation, stimulates weight loss and relieves depression. There is even a 30-day cold shower challenge, where the goal is to implement the practice into your daily morning routine. There is a plethora of blog posts and testimonials online, all praising the practice and results of cold showering. With it's overwhelmingly positive online reviews, its easy to understand why the practice has gained a following and has sparked the hot versus cold argument. It's definitely worth trying.
