Well, it's the beginning of summer, so what better way to cool down than a cold shower! This month's monthly mission is going to be in your own home. Many of you may be familiar with Tim Ferris, he interviews world-class high performers within different fields. The two most common things he found with their routines were: 1. Meditations 2. Cold morning showers. Now I know it will be tough to get people to commit to a full cold shower, so we are just going to do a 'cold out'. It's simple, the last 30 seconds of your morning shower must be full cold. Keep your evening showers warm, warm water is relaxing and helps induce sleep. 10 Benefits of cold showers. 1. BOOSTS IMMUNITY: Cold water triggers anti-inflammatory norepinephrine release and “red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets count increased significantly” according to this study. 2. REDUCES DEPRESSION
Although the hard science behind this isn’t totally conclusive, it makes a lot of sense. A study by the University School of Medicine, Richmond posits:
“Exposure to cold is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the blood level of beta-endorphin and noradrenaline and to increase synaptic release of noradrenaline in the brain as well. Additionally, due to the high density of cold receptors in the skin, a cold shower is expected to send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which could result in an anti-depressive effect”.
Another study showed depressive symptoms were relieved in those who took two or three 5-minute showers per week 3. BOOST METABOLISM
There is an increase in metabolism from people who take a daily cold shower for one main reason: there’s increased activation in brown adipose tissue – good fat – which is used to generate heat and insulate us against the cold. 4. IMPROVES MUSCLE RECOVERY
Cold water immersion for sports performance is well documented and widely practiced amongst athletes who repeatedly break muscle and need rapid recovery. 5. IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION
When you take a cold shower, your body naturally increases blood flow in a bid to keep organs warm. Improved blood flow has a multitude of widely understood health benefits. 6. YOU’LL FEEL ENERGISED
A cold shower stimulates your sympathetic nervous system. This is the system responsible for our fight-or-flight response to danger or a threatening event (as a cold shower can sometimes feel). But this response triggers a hormone release which is felt as an adrenaline rush and leaves you buzzing. 7. BOOST FERTILITY
It’s an old wives’ tale, but there’s evidence supporting the claim that high water temperature exposure – like baths, Jacuzzis and hot showers – reduce fertility.
In short, men’s testicles need cool environment to operate optimally.
Hot water also decreases testosterone so if you’re looking for a T-boost, a daily cold shower gets you on the right track. 8. WAKES YOU UP
Regardless of the countless health benefits, a cold shower will certainly make you more alert at the start of the day.
After a night's slumber, your body often needs a kick to start firing on all cylinders and a cold shower is a perfect prescription.
9. YOU'LL GET TOUGHER:
Being tougher will help you in life. When you start the day you will already overcome one obstacle, what's next?
10. SKIN BENEFITS:
Your skin contracts with cold expose, giving your skin a smoother appearance.
If you want to be part of the challenge, text 0439 347 514 on whatsapp "I wanna be cool" and I will add you to the group. We can share experiences, help each other through, and hopefully share some successful mechanisms to get through it.
