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As the song says: baby, it’s cold outside. Temperatures are dropping, our breath is starting to fog, and in some parts of the world snow is coming down. Winter is a time of early nights and hot chocolate; it’s also a good time for your health. Being exposed to the cold by either going outside or immersing in cold water can have genuine health benefits. Read on as we explore why being cold can be cool.
Cold Showers
A cold shower might not sound like a good time but occasionally soaking yourself in cold water can have some genuine health benefits. For starters: a cold shower can improve your circulation. The cold speeds up your circulatory system, which causes your heart to pump more efficiently and boost circulation throughout your body in an attempt to compensate for the frigidity. This cold water effect also works to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the body.
Cold showers can also be good for your skin and hair. The coldness tightens the skin, helping you retain natural oils in your skin or hair. If you have dry skin and/or brittle hair, you might want to consider taking a cold shower every now and then to keep your natural oils. More shower tips to promote healthy skin can be found here.
Immune System
Regular cold showers can boost your immune system. Research has found that the cold water increases your metabolic rate, which in turn increases the number of white blood cells in your body. The increase in white blood cells helps make your body more responsive to combating illness and repairing itself.
Muscle Soreness
Soaking in cold water for short periods of time after exercising can help reduce muscle soreness and ease muscle pain. It can also help you cool down faster, which leads to a faster recovery time after your body is overheated or over-exerted.
Improved Brain Function
Cold weather and cold water can help you think clearly. Research has shown that people tend to perform tasks better when they’re in rooms where the room temperature is cooler than normal.
Better Sleep
Another benefit of the winter season is that it lowers your body’s core temperature, which makes it easier for you to sleep. When our body temperature dips, it makes us more relaxed and prepared to rest. Another benefit of this temperature dip is that you may burn more calories: your body starts to burn up calories when your bedroom temperature is between 60 and 67 degrees or lower.
Allergies
If you have outdoor allergies, the cold weather is your friend. Pollen counts are almost non-existent in cold weather, so spending time outdoors shouldn’t trigger your allergies. That being said, be careful with indoor allergens: mold and dust mites can be worse during winter, so if you’re not careful you could be in for a rough time spending too much time at home.
Article by Austin Brietta