Summer Health Tips 2015: 5 Ways Cold Showers Can Improve Your Mind & Body

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Listed below are some major health benefit to taking cold showers

1. Cold showers give you attractive hair and skin

According to Life Hack, hot water has the tendency to dry the skin out, while cold water tightens its cuticles and pores. As a result, the skin can become less clogged by dirt, resulting in acne-free skin.

Similar to skin cuticles, cold water can also tighten hair cuticles. Less dirt is gathered and taken in by the scalp due to the closed hair cuticles, resulting in clean shiny hair.

2. Cold showers can brighten up your mood

Several studies have found that cold temperatures can help with stress and depression. According to one study the cold can decrease uric acid levels in the body, which can help the body deal with stress easier, states Care 2.

In another study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers discovered that cold showers have an "anti-depressive" effect with no bad side effects, including the creation of dependency.

3. Cold showers aid in recovery after exercise

Athletes actually take ice baths on purpose to help with recovery. Ice baths can help reduce soreness and inflammation in the body by moving lactic acid out of the muscles.

Although, according to some research, ice baths are not recommended for everyone, only for athletes who have trained near the point of exhaustion. For people who want to reap the benefits of cold water after an intense exercise session, Care 2 states a cold shower would suffice.

4. Cold showers burn fat

There are two types of fat stored in the body: white fat and brown fat. White fat is stored when too many calories are consumed in the body, which accumulates around the waist, lower back, neck and thighs. Whereas, brown fat is considered "good fat" since it helps the body keep warm when exposed to high temperatures. Life Hack explains that a cold shower triggers brown fat to keep the body warm by burning some of the excess white fat. A Scandinavian research even found that brown fat can increase the metabolic rate by fifteen fold when exposed to cold temperatures.

5. Cold showers strengthen immunity and circulation

When cold showers increase the metabolic rate of the body, it also activates the body's immune system which react by releasing white blood cells. These specialized cells help prevent and fight virus infections.

Along with activating the immune system, cold showers can also increase overall blood circulation in the body, preventing hypertension and hardening of the arteries.