Showers: Hot Vs. Cold

The focal point of many a intense debate finally broken down!

Although those of you who know me have heard me preach how beneficial cold showers can be, in this article, I will promise to take an objective analysis of both cold and hot showers. Ideally, by the end of your reading you will have enough pros and cons to decide for yourself which method will be your daily.

There is no denying that the majority of humanity prefers a nice hot shower when given the chance. Hot water can have a variety of health benefits both chemically and emotionally. The first and most obvious health benefit to a nice piping hot shower is the endorphin release that overwhelms the brain when we step into the warmth. It is very difficult to be in a negative or anxious state of mind during this time. Of course we cannot stay in the shower forever so please seek other, longer term, ways to resolve any real case of anxiety. Moving on. The second benefit is the muscle relaxation that occurs from the heating and relaxing components that water above our body temperature can bring. Next time you feel tension in your back or neck causing a head ache, jump in that shower and crank up the heat. Another plus is the ability to relieve many common cold or sore throat symptoms. Also, the hotter water can clean off a substantial amount of dirt and bacteria that cold water might not reach. The final benefit we will discuss today is the ironic side effect that a hot shower, at least an hour before bed, will actually lower your core body temperature and give you a much deeper, more healing slumber. The only negative I may speak on is the drying effect the heat will have on your skin, hair, and scalp. Now that we have delved into the benefits of the hot, allow us to give cold a fair shake.

Cold showers have always been viewed as tortuous in my mind up until a year ago. I read some articles and listened to some information that peeked my curiosity about giving cold a chance. A huge benefit that I have discovered since braving the cold, is the development of mental toughness to master your body; a true mind over matter scenario. Once you have begun your day with a brutal blast of cold, many obstacles, that may have once baffled you, tend to lose their power. Another benefit is the boost to the immune system the chilling shock of the water brings, while also aiding in blood circulation throughout the body. When starting off your day with a dunk in the cold you transition from half asleep to wide awake in less than a blink! In addition, the shock value the cold brings has also been seen to help fight depression from roosting in your mind. Many people get into a kind of funk during the colder months of the year. If you fit that description I encourage you to try out a cold shower or two and note how you feel after. Finally, the cold water does not possess the drying effect that the hot brings to the table and furthermore some studies have credited the cold to jump start the body into fat burning. Weight loss from cold showers? Only one way to truly test this theory! As far as negatives go, other than the obvious difficulty of bearing the chill, the overall cleanliness of your showers may not be adequate in an all cold shower lifestyle. The cold water does not attack and clean our body’s with the same intensity of the hot water.

In summation, we can clearly see there are plenty of reasons to go with one option or another. In my own experience I have found the method that works best for me and my lifestyle. Everyday begins with a one minute rinse in the cold shower for all the health and emotional benefits discussed above. However, I am not exclusive. A few nights a week I will take a hot shower in the evenings to maintain my cleanliness and my sanity. With both sides of the coin fully exposed here, take some time and construct a shower life of your own that fits your needs best!

Thanks for reading this week’s blog!

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