If you had told me 3 months ago that I would be taking a cold shower every day I would have laughed out loud! But this is now reality in our household and we absolutely love it.
There are many benefits to incorporating cold showers into your daily routine and many of these have been highlighted by the Dutch cold water therapy specialist, Wim Hof. Aka The Iceman. He developed the Wim Hof Method which introduces you to cold showers, gradually building up the length of time you are under cold water. The method also includes breathing exercises as a holistic approach to mind and body wellbeing and explains the science behind cold water therapy. ( ref: www.wimhofmethod.com)
So, what are the benefits?
Reduced stress levels
Cold showers impose a small stress on the body and as you build up the endurance of standing under cold running water your nervous system becomes accustomed to handling stress. This process is called ‘hardening’ and can help you respond better next time you are in a stressful situation.
More alert
Standing with your head and body under cold water certainly wakes you up! This was the first major benefit we noticed and combined with slower breathing makes you feel more alert and the mind sharper. Taking deeper breaths also helps you withstand the cold until you become accustomed to it. Singing out loud also helps in the early days!
Helps your immune system
Science has shown that cold showers can increase the number of white blood cells in your body and can boost your immune system. We cannot vouch for this except to say so far, we have stayed well.
Increased willpower
This is certainly true as it takes willpower to make yourself endure the cold – especially at the start of your cold shower journey. There is a great sense of victory at the end of the shower: 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds etc.
Saving water /energy
The Wim Hof method suggests starting with a warm shower and then switching the water to run cold. Once you have embraced cold showers however it is easy to just step straight into a cold shower. This saves water running until a preferred temperature is reached and thereby wasted. We opted to tun off the boiler this summer so use no hot water, except for some water heated by solar panels only and used for washing dishes.
We also recommend investing in a shower timer. We never exceed 2 minutes to conserve water and this is plenty long enough to benefit from the cold water effect.
Ice baths
Athletes and sports enthusiasts have employed ice baths into their post workout routine for many years and these have recently gained popularity in the mainstream. Chris Evans, radio host and presenter often talks about the benefits of his daily plunge into icy water. This is not for the faint hearted however and must be done with care, especially if you have any underlying health condition. Always check with a health professional first as the cold shock can be dangerous.
Charlotte (our Audiology Apprentice) – her husband Adam Scott swears by a daily ice bath!.
“I started cold water exposure for a couple of reasons. One – I have inflammatory arthritis and had read about the benefits of cold water for reducing inflammation. Two – I really enjoy swimming in the sea, we spent Last Christmas down in Devon and I swam in the sea every day. After every session I felt great, invigorated and my mood boosted.
My wheelie bin full of ice packs is not a substitute for the ocean but being outside and the cold water exposure gives me a mental boost. I stay in for 10-15 minutes. After a few sessions my body started acclimatise and the exposure becomes almost addictive. Does the cold water help my arthritis? Physiologically I’m not sure, but mentally it certainly benefits me. Poor metal well being can manifest itself physically. Anything that makes you feel positive, calm and relaxed can only be a good thing.” Adam Scott
