Cold Showers

Alexa Fleckenstein, M.D., author of Health20, has a few things to say about cold showers. Within the book, she writes: “Cold water can do more than just wash away sweat, dirt, old skin cells, bacteria, and viruses: What a Cold Shower Can Do For You Enhance immunity against infections and cancer Give your glands (thyroid, [...]

Fruitflies.

One of the main problems with a hot shower is that it tends to dry the skin by stripping it of its natural oils. Dry skin can be itchy, become chapped or cracked, and exasperate conditions like eczema. When the normally plump cells of moist skin become dry and shriveled, fine lines and wrinkles also [...]

The low cost and portability of infrared saunas are bringing the health benefits out of the spa and into the home. For several reasons, it is extremely beneficial to use an infrared sauna immediately before a cold shower. 1. Stimulate Circulation to Skin and Muscles An infrared sauna followed by a cold shower is much [...]

Cold water can help alleviate inflammation and muscle soreness from intense exercise. The concept dates back to the tale of semi-legendary hydrotherapist Vincenz Priesnittz, who, seeing a deer hold a wounded limb in a stream, became inspired to heal the masses with his cold water treatment. Jockeys have known for years that cold water wraps [...]

Ironically, I didn’t start taking cold showers because I knew they were healthy. It was just a moment of spontaneity one day when I was standing in the steaming hot water and for lack of a better word, realized I was “bored” with the consistent warmth. So I cranked up the cold water, and to [...]

Cold showers are sometimes touted as a preventative tonic for colds, flu, and infections. However, are these reported benefits just a placebo effect – the power of suggestion, or do cold showers have a direct and measurable effect on our immunity? Once again, studies show at least some support for the popular wisdom. An experiment [...]

Many people report that they feel warmer throughout the day after taking a cold shower or bath. This could partly be due to enhanced circulation, but the stimulation of brown fat also seems a likely cofactor. Brown fat is one of two types of fat in the body – the other being white fat, or [...]

As for all therapies, the precondition is “first, do no harm”. Following these guidelines will help you receive maximal benefit from cold water therapy and avoid adverse effects. 1) Listen to your body. When you exercise, you probably notice a point where you feel satisfied with your workout. Up to a point, exercising leaves us [...]

Some basic reasoning tells us that cold showers can assist in weight loss. Consider the acute effects of a cold shower. The water hits the skin and almost immediately the body jump starts; blood flow increases, muscles harden, and heart rate increases. All of these things require energy. It may help to think of the [...]