Cold Shower Benefits?

[jeromedawg]

Hey all,

I've recently started switching to a "cold water rinse" at the end of my showers because I've heard it stimulates your immune system among other things. Does anyone else do this or take full on cold showers on a regular basis?

I'm wondering what some of the other benefits are to this, if there are any, and possibly if it increases your metabolism. I noticed I shed a couple lbs in the past week but have been doing this for probably 2-3 weeks. It's weird because this past week I feel like I've actually been eating not as well as I have in prior weeks. It could be something else entirely but was kind of wondering...

Anyway, sort of a random and weird thing to post I'm sure but curious if there's anyone else other there hahahahaha

[reeshau]

Maybe after a sauna, where a cold douse is common.  I don't know that I shower long enough or hot enough to make a shock work.

[Metalcat]

Only after a sauna. It's the only time it feels nice for me, otherwise I'm not bloody doing it.

Also, there's no way a blast of cold water alters your metabolism enough to make you lose multiple pounds in one week.

As for losing weight during a week of excess eating, that's not unusual at all either. I tracked my weight daily for 5 years, and my weight consistently had a two week lag compared to my eating. So if I ate very little, I didn't see a loss until two weeks later. Or if I ate a ton, like over Christmas, I didn't see a gain until two weeks later.

Your body adjusts it's water levels constantly, so these types of fluctuations and delays are not unusual.

Basically, don't read too much into the weight change. It didn't come from cold water, and even if it somehow did, it would probably be a change in water retention if the cold water was somehow affecting your lymphatic system.

[jeromedawg]

I see... I've just been doing it at the end of my hot showers - gradually decreasing the temp until it's pretty cold. Part of my dreads and hates it but it actually feels quite refreshing.

What about the whole thing about it supposedly being good for the immune system?   A lot of people anecdotally claim that their immune system is stronger and they've become less prone to getting sick (COVID withstanding I'm sure...)

[uniwelder]

My normal routine is to use hot water for the first few minutes to get wet, shut it off, scrub up and shampoo hair, then rinse off with luke warm (winter) or cold (spring to fall) water.  I like to do it because otherwise I will start sweating once I get out of the shower, and its horrible to dry off and then a minute later realize you need to pat yourself down again.  It helps to close the pores of your skin.  I don't know about anyone else, but I think my metabolism goes into hyperdrive after a shower--- for the next hour I can walk around in 35 degree weather with a t-shirt and feel comfortable.

[jeromedawg]

My normal routine is to use hot water for the first few minutes to get wet, shut it off, scrub up and shampoo hair, then rinse off with luke warm (winter) or cold (spring to fall) water.  I like to do it because otherwise I will start sweating once I get out of the shower, and its horrible to dry off and then a minute later realize you need to pat yourself down again.  It helps to close the pores of your skin.  I don't know about anyone else, but I think my metabolism goes into hyperdrive after a shower--- for the next hour I can walk around in 35 degree weather with a t-shirt and feel comfortable.

Sounds like you're rinsing with pretty COLD water regardless. But yea, when I switch from the hot to cold my breathing can get more intense (deeper fuller breaths). I haven't tried walking around in cold weather since but I've heard the same in that the cold weather outside doesn't quite feel as cold after a while.

I'm going to try your method today - it seems way more water efficient that way too. It's just too tempting though when the hot water feels so nice hahaha.

[Metalcat]

I see... I've just been doing it at the end of my hot showers - gradually decreasing the temp until it's pretty cold. Part of my dreads and hates it but it actually feels quite refreshing.

What about the whole thing about it supposedly being good for the immune system?   A lot of people anecdotally claim that their immune system is stronger and they've become less prone to getting sick (COVID withstanding I'm sure...)

I mean sure, it might bolster your immune system, whatever that actually means for you, who knows.

Basically, it's not going to hurt you, so go ahead and keep doing it if you want to, but a splash of cold water is also not going to have a substantial effect on your overall well being.

Personally, I find it such a miserable practice that I'm not willing to do it. However, I do like going for long walks in the freezing cold, but I do that more for the health benefits of taking long walks.