REALLY? Cold Showers: For the health of it

I recently watched a YouTube video on the benefits of taking cold showers. I really don’t know what inspired me to click on it, but curiosity got the best of me. It talked about using cold showers as a form of discipline—no, not punishment—just good, old fashioned mental discipline. The theory behind it, is to make oneself feel comfortable being uncomfortable. In a time when we are used to having food in 5 minutes or less, soft furniture and warm butts with the push of a button, we forget discomfort can have mental and physiological benefits beyond just sensation. Being someone who likes a challenge, I committed to doing it daily for a month. That was three months ago, and I continue to take a cold shower every morning. 

As it turns out, there are many upsides to taking cold showers. Besides increasing mental toughness and providing a wake-up shock to our sleepy behinds, they can also drastically reduce uric acid levels associated with gout. They help increase glutathione production, which is our body’s most powerful natural anti-oxidant; i.e., anti-aging pharmacy. They increase circulation, as well as reduce inflammation, while some studies even suggest an ice-cold shower can burn brown body fat (bonus!).   

So next time you’re in the shower, soaking up the heat and the comfort, throw the handle over to blue, let out a little yelp and experience the uncomfortable benefits of a cold shower. You could end up looking and feeling younger, skinnier and more mentally tough.