Since today is National Shower with a Friend Day, I thought it would be a great time to talk about something I've started implementing over the past few weeks - Hot/Cold Intermittent Showers. I mean the "on purpose" kind; not the kind when someone comes in and flushes while you're in the shower and you scream like a girl as the icy blast hits you.

Why would anyone intentionally take an ice cold shower? Lots of reasons!

Are there any cons?

Not a one!

Does it suck?

At first, YUP! Sure does! After two weeks, though, I'm actually starting to enjoy it!

I was listening to a podcast a few weeks ago, and the guest was going on and on about the benefits of a hot/cold intermittent shower - singing the practice, such praises, that I just had to try it. The first time, I took my normal hot shower, and then switched the valve all the way to cold, and blasted my chest for ten seconds and then my back for ten seconds. This was not the most fun I've had this year, but it didn't kill me so I decided to try it again the next day, increasing my cold time by a couple seconds. After day three, still alive, and hitting the cold setting for just a little bit longer, I did some research - and found that for us beginners it was recommended to slowly decrease the water temperature, allowing us to ease into the practice. Since modifying my personal technique, I've found that I'm really starting to enjoy ending my shower with cold - it just feels good.

But what's the point? I mean, doesn't a hot shower feel good too?, you ask?

Of course it does. But there are lots of points. So let's start talking about some of them.

Point 1: A cold shower, boosts the metabolism. When your body is exposed to cold, it requires more heat to warm you up. To heat you up, it has to process more energy, which means it has to burn more fat more efficiently than normal. Being cold can also activate brown fat, which is a sort of good fat that helps generate heat, boost your metabolism, and burn fat.

Point 2: A cold shower is great for your skin and hair. If you’d like to reduce the appearance of acne, cold showers could do the job. Hot water dries out your skin, while cold water tightens your cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged. You can also use cold showers for shinier, more attractive hair that your partner can’t resist playing with. Cold water will close your cuticle, making it less likely dirt can accumulate in your scalp.

Point 3: A cold shower can relieve symptoms of depression. Cold showers have been shown to help relieve symptoms of depression. Due to the high density of cold receptors in the skin, taking a cold shower sends an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which can result in an anti-depressive effect.

Point 4: A cold shower can improve circulation. Over time, cold water exposure improves circulation. Since exposure to cold causes your blood flow to be redirected to your vital organs, your body is forced to circulate your blood more efficiently.

Point 5: A cold shower can boost your ability to fight disease. Your lymphatic system takes waste away from your cells to help you fight disease. It’s separate from your blood vessels, but it’s moved around by the contraction of your muscles. Cold showers cause your entire body to contract and this forces your lymphatic system to push lymph fluids throughout your body, stopping them from pooling in one part of your body as they would if the lymphatic system were compromised or inefficient.

Point 6: A cold shower can speed up post work-out recovery time. Ice baths have long been used by elite athletes to help reduce inflammation after a workout. They alleviate DOMS by constricting your veins, thereby removing toxins from your blood. When you get out of the bath, your system is flushed with fresh, nutrient-rich blood that can help repair muscles and tendons.

Point 7: A cold shower can increase alertness. When cold water pours over your body, your breathing deepens in response to the shock of the cold (this is your body trying to keep you warm by increasing overall 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.

Point 8: A cold shower can help regulate overall body temperature. Really, no joke! Regular cold showers help to reduce heat loss, decrease your core body temperature, and regulate your overall body temperature.

And a few additional benefits: Cold showers have also been used to reduce chronic pain, body aches, and inflammation, improve hair health and kidney function, regulate the nervous system, deepen your breathing, help fight fatigue, and improve sleep quality.

I am by no means an expert about hot/cold intermittent showers or cold shower therapy. I am a total beginner, but I'm pretty excited about the possibilities of how putting this into practice can improve my life. If you're going to try it, you might want to do a little more research first, on the best practices and techniques. And after you've tried it for a couple weeks, come back and comment below - let me know what you think.

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