Cold showers vs. hot showers

If your body is craving a hot shower, you are not alone. Most people turn the hot tap wide open to feel the warmth over their bodies. But, it is also definitely worth it to incorporate cold showers into your daily routine. While you may be afraid of the cold shock you are going to experience, it is going to bring you loads of health benefits that are more than worth it. We are positive that after a while you will love your cold showers!

The shock of a cold shower

When the cold hits your body, there is a bit of a shock. Perhaps not so pleasant, but that shock provides your body with more oxygen intake, an increased heart rate, and higher alertness. This results in better blood circulation, a fitter and more energized feeling, and it is a boost for your immune system. Exposure to cold causes white blood cells to be produced, which are essential to fight off diseases.

Cold showers for mental health

Next to all the physical benefits, cold showers are also helpful to relieve symptoms of mental health issues. Cold showers have been proven to positively stimulate blood circulation and lower blood pressure. Anxiety causes increased blood pressure. So, with a cold shower, you may help bring it down. The cold shock also releases the stress hormones norepinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline. By exposing your nervous system to small amounts of these stress hormones regularly, you can build a tolerance to stress over time. Besides that, a cold shower increases your endorphins and other feel-good hormones in your brain, which can ease symptoms of depression. and anxiety.

Never take a hot shower again?

Maybe you now think: can I never take a hot shower again? Of course you can! We are also still enjoying a warm shower now and then. Especially for relaxation and opening up your airways, a hot shower is recommended. But we advise you to combine them and at least have one cold shower a day, preferably in the morning. Research shows that taking a cold shower in the evening may affect your sleep in a bad way. This is because exposure to cold increases your cortisol level, which may lead to a poor night's sleep. So, a hot shower is more relaxing and helps you fall asleep faster, while a cold shower is more stimulating. Determine in advance which goal you want to achieve and adjust your shower to that.

Cold showers with the Wim Hof Method

You may wonder how you will ever manage to take a cold shower regularly. The Wim Hof Method can help you with this. The method is built on three pillars, which are exposure to cold, breathing exercises, and commitment. In an interactive video course, Wim Hof himself teaches you his method and ensures that you develop the strength to take a cold shower every day. Do you want to experience all the health health improvements we mentioned above? Start today and sign up for one of the video courses!