How Taking a Cold Shower Everyday Can Change Your Life

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Challenge yourself

There are some amazing health benefits to the cold that include weight loss, increased energy, mood enhancements, and lowering inflammation. I cover these in depth below.

For me the true benefit comes from the changing of your behavior and the approach you take to the difficult tasks in life. One of the major ways in which you can benefit from taking a cold shower is by confronting something that is challenging and uncomfortable and then to overcome that challenge.

There is a voice inside of us all that tells us what we can't do, what is too hard, and why we shouldn't. While this voice can help us avoid danger, it can also hold us back from our true potential.

This is what makes the idea of taking a cold shower so beneficial.

Drive with the fear

I have been taking cold showers for about 6 months now and it has changed my life and how I approach each day.

Right before I get in to the shower, there is a voice of doubt and fear that creeps in and says, "it's too cold, this is crazy, you don't need to do this"

By stepping in the shower and taking the cold plunge, I am taking control of these negative thoughts and proving that I am in charge of my own life.

This has had a rippling effect on the rest of my approach to life. From starting this website and pursuing my dream, being a better public speaker, to dealing with social anxiety.

The limit is not the sky. The limit is the Mind.

Wim Hof

What about the health benefits?

There are many of benefits that are associated with cold water immersion. This is why athletes hit the ice bath after a tough game or workout and why cryotherapy has become so popular.

A cold shower is not as intense as an ice bath but over time you will be rewarded with similar health benefits.

I have felt the positive effects of these benefits first hand. Especially in reference to my energy, immune system, hair, and elevated mood.

Energy and Mood

When you first get into the shower, your body has several reactions that effect different regulators in your body.

The cold water accelerates your heart rate and increases oxygen. This leads your body into a fight or flight state which increases your alertness as well as boosts your energy. These effects are immediate and can last for several hours after.

Cold water can increase glutathione levels. There was a study completed by Humboldt University that concluded that cold water immersion decreased uric acid and improved glutathione which helped circulation and mood.

Cold water also can activate your sympathetic nervous system and increase endorphins which can help with anxiety and fight depression.

There is also the sense of accomplishment and rush that you get for doing something that is difficult. I feel this right away and I am becoming hooked on tackling my fears because of this wonderful sensation.

Weight Loss and Inflammation

Cold water stress can activate brown tissue or brown fat in the body.

When brown fat warms up and is activated it burns calories. Brown fat works differently than white fat cells and tends to deplete as you age.

When there is an increase in temperature stress and the brown fat is activated, you get a strong calorie burn that will help reduce weight over time.

The cold also reduces blood flow to certain parts of your body and decreases inflammation. Think about when you have swelling and you put an ice pack on the area. This works the same but on your whole body. The colder the water the more powerful the response.

Immune System, skin, and hair

When you put the body through stress there is an immune response. Since taking a cold shower can get your body's immune system charged up but isn't harmful like -20 temperatures are, you can have a very positive effect on your system.

There have been many anecdotal stories of success about missing less days at work or not getting sick for an entire year.

There was also a study completed that concluded that after 30 and 90 days there were fewer sick days because of cold shower therapy.

Because of the tightening of pores that happens when the skin comes in contact with the cold water, this has proven benefits for hair and skin.

You should always rinse your hair with cold water to close the cuticles and pores in the scalp. This also helps with keeping your hair smooth and shiny, while warm water can make hair frizzy.

Making it happen

While all the potential health benefits of this free treatment are amazing and worth trying it out on it's own..

For me, it's all about the behavioral change and fear setting.

Tony Robbins does cold water immersion every morning to help prime himself for this very reason.

Wim Hoff has challenged our biology with his breath technique and extreme cold challenges.

I am drawn to this because of what it is doing to change the way that I look at life.

It is changing the way that I approach conflict and fear.

For those reasons I will keep challenging myself every day and why I think you should too!

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