Just stand outdoors for more than ten seconds now, and you’ll immediately start sweating! Many people will take a cold shower to cool down after sweating, and the refreshing feeling is indescribable! Besides the moment of coolness, it turns out that taking a cold shower also has great benefits for physical and mental health!
增加腦內啡的釋放
According to General Practitioner Dr. Adam Abbs, taking a 5-minute cold shower once or twice a day can help alleviate mild symptoms of depression. This is because cold water can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the secretion of norepinephrine in the brain, which in turn leads to the release of endorphins in the body, promoting pleasure and regulating appetite. The higher the levels of endorphins, the less negative impact stress will have.
促進新陳代謝
Our body fat is divided into two types, including white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue, with the latter breaking down into blood sugar and fat particles under low temperatures, thereby burning calories and generating heat to maintain our body temperature. In addition, high levels of brown adipose tissue breakdown activity can reduce the levels of branched-chain amino acids in the blood, helping to prevent obesity and diabetes.
支援免疫系統運作
Dr. Adam Abbs also mentioned that taking a cold shower in the morning or pouring cold water on yourself for 30 seconds after a warm shower can effectively reduce the chances of getting sick. This is because when the body is suddenly exposed to cold, the brain releases signals that activate the immune system, stimulating the production of white blood cells in the blood, helping to enhance resistance and fight common illnesses.
改善膚質及髮質
Cold water restricts blood flow to the skin’s surface, helping to close the cuticle layer and pores of the hair, making the skin tighter and more radiant. In addition, cold water does not dry out the sebum layer like hot water does, and the fatty acids and oils in it can cover the skin to provide a protective effect.
有助於心理健康
Many people consider taking cold showers as a form of meditation and self-reflection, believing that it can enhance their ability to cope with stress, strengthen mental resilience, and have a positive impact on their psyche, but this claim also varies from person to person. On the other hand, research from Charles University in Prague has shown that when immersed in cold water baths, the body’s cortisol (also known as stress hormone) levels decrease, meaning that taking cold showers can indeed reduce stress.
資料及圖片來源： Harper’s Bazaar UK , Pinterest
