Are cold showers better for health?
(Walla! News system)
Although most people prefer hot showers to cold ones, certainly at this time of year, every so often a study is published that talks about the beauty of cold showers, causing many to try it.
But the truth is, as with most things in life, the best way is the middle way.
And no, we are not talking about a lukewarm shower, but a shower where part of the time the water is boiling, and part of the time - cold.
Dr. Nina Wassen, a psychiatrist and chief medical officer at the mental health platform Real, said in an interview with huffpost that while taking a shower, you should change the water temperature from hot to cold, and then back again. "Usually, it consists of multiple cycles of switching between hot and cold water, And it lasts between 5-10 minutes in total," she said.
You can also make it less hot.
A man in the shower (Photo: Giphy)
You can perform such a shower, also known as a contrast shower, in all kinds of ways: you can use hot water for about three minutes, and then switch to one minute of cold water, and you can choose shorter intervals of about 15 seconds.
As long as you go between heat and cold - it works.
Most studies on the subject recommend finishing with cold water.
Why do it actually?
"Contrast showers have the potential to boost your energy levels," said Dr. Vasan, "The surprising quality of changing from hot to cold water can provide a quick burst of energy and alertness." Dermatologist Dr. Lauren Floch explained that our bodies tend to adapt to temperature the water, and therefore such a shower "shocks the system by changing temperatures just as our body begins to adapt to the previous temperature".
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In addition, cold water activates the cardiovascular system, therefore improving its function.
There is also evidence that cold water activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is the part that controls the "fight or flight" response (an automatic physiological response to an event perceived as dangerous, stressful or frightening).
When this mechanism is activated, such as during a cold shower, you get an increase in the hormone noradrenaline.
This is what likely causes the increase in heart rate and blood pressure seen when people take a dip in cold water.
A few more benefits of a good shower:
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Immersion in cold water has also been shown to improve circulation.
When exposed to cold water, the blood vessels in the skin become smaller, reducing blood flow.
When the cold water stops, the body needs to warm up, so there is an increase in blood flow as the blood vessels grow due to dilation.
A study that looked at cold water immersion after exercise found that after four weeks, blood flow to and from the muscles improved.
morning or evening?
"A contrast shower is especially good in the morning because the cold temperatures are stimulating," Dr. Floch said, adding that "many people use this technique after an intense workout because it can reduce muscle soreness.
However, there are no hard and fast rules about the best time to take a contrast shower—or just a regular shower, for that matter.
“I believe it comes down to personal preference of when you shower,” said Dr. Wassen, “For some people, a contrast shower in the morning to wake up is better.
For others, this type of shower in the evening to help rest is best."
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