Everyone craves a hot, steamy shower after a draining workout or a stressful day. I completely agree and have been taking hot showers for my whole life. Contrary to popular beliefs, hot showers have beneficial effects like helping with muscle relaxation, blemishes, and provides relief for respiratory symptoms.
Recently, I started a 6-day PPL+1 rest day rotation in order to bulk up(I will upload my training plan and diet advice soon!). Because of such a stressful and intense regimen, I consistently felt fatigued and some days aren't even able to get out of the bed–my ass was sore and my legs were quaking. I decided to take cold showers because I thought it had similar effects to cryotherapy, and instantly felt so much better.
I'll put you guys on a few beneficial and harmful effects of 🧊🥶 showers:
Taking cold showers can calm your itchy skin(it helps overcome the urge to scratch), wake you up(cold water increases oxygen intake, heart rate and alertness), increase circulation(constricts circulation on the surface of your body which causes blood in deeper tissues to circulate faster to maintain homeostasis), reduce muscle soreness(relax and repairs muscles), boost weight loss(brown fat in regions like your neck and head can burn fat to generate heat) and make your skin(constriction of blood flow gives your hair a healthy glow) or hair glow(cold water closes and strengthens your hair cuticles).
The only downsides to cold showers occur if you are already feeling sick or cold, because cold water makes your body temperature even colder and provides a strain on the immune system as it tries to maintain homeostasis(DUHH).
After having this quick read, drop everything and go take that cold shower. I promise it will be very refreshing and can help you clear your mind too(no scientific evidence but Dr. Khai said so).
Khai :)
Information from Healthline.
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