Cold showers pros and cons. Shower: benefits and harm for our body

Many people consider a cold shower to be something out of the ordinary and, it seems, will never take it of their own free will. Perhaps only a faulty boiler can force them into a cold shower. But in fact, even a few seconds in a cold shower will bring a lot of benefits to the body if you follow certain rules.

Before we get into the actual benefits of cold showers, it's worth recognizing the simple fact that hot showers are a luxury, not a necessity. For most of human history, people had to bathe in the coldest water available to them. The Greeks invented heating systems for public baths in the 1st century BC, but surprisingly many Greeks chose to continue bathing in cold water due to the health benefits.

1. Brown fat

There are two types of fat in the human body: white and brown. White fat is “bad” and brown fat is “good”. It is white fat that people try to get rid of when losing weight. When people consume more calories than the body needs to function and they don't burn those calories for energy, those calories are stored as white fat, which tends to accumulate around the waist, lower back, neck, and thighs.

The function of brown fat, which most people have probably never even heard of, is to produce heat to keep the body warm. When brown fat is activated by extreme cold, it burns calories to keep you warm, which can help you lose weight. Scandinavian researchers found that when exposed to cold temperatures, the metabolic rate of brown fat increases by 15 times, which can help a person lose 5 kilograms in a year just by taking cold showers regularly.

2. Recovery after training

Athletes often take ice baths after vigorous exercise to relieve muscle pain. You shouldn't go that far, of course, but you can get similar benefits after your workout by taking a quick, cold shower.

3. Immunity and circulation

As mentioned above, cold showers speed up your metabolism, which helps you lose weight. Increasing metabolism activates the immune system, which begins to produce more white blood cells that fight viruses. Cold shower also increases general circulation, which can help avoid hypertension and hardening of the arteries.

4. Mood and alertness

Who doesn't feel completely out of tone when they get out of bed in the morning? A cold shower before work will help you cope with this lethargy. When cold water is poured onto the body, a person's breathing increases in response to the shock of the cold (this is the body's attempt to maintain heat by increasing overall oxygen consumption). Heartbeat will also become more frequent, resulting in a stronger flow of blood through the body. This will help you get active for the whole day.

Shower - one of the types of water procedures. PONa is a complex of hygienic and health measures related to the external use of water. For example: a therapeutic pool, hydrotherapy baths (whirlpool, mineral, mud), various thermal waters - baths.

Pouring water can be cold, hot or contrasting. The shower is a component and an integral part of a complete and healthy image life. Depending on the temperature, time spent in the shower may have various advantages. It also matters what kind of water your body and soul prefer. Accordingly, you should choose which shower is best suited for your body.

A hot shower helps with various ailments as well as medicine.

Hot showers are good for your health.

But it is important not to take it for too long. But a 5 to 10 minute procedure will work wonders and will benefit the skin, body, muscles, and joints.

It goes without saying that you should not take it if yousuffers from fever oryou have problems with cardiovascular system. For people suffering from any cardiovascular diseases, a hot shower can even be harmful. It has been found that hot showers can lead to hypertension, arrhythmia and other problems. Also, a hot shower can make your hair very weak and fragile.

If you are bothered by a cough and runny nose, lock yourself in the bathroom and turn on hot water. You don’t even need to take a shower, just breathe hot steam for 10-15 minutes. This will relieve irritation of the mucous membrane respiratory tract, will help get rid of phlegm. Addition eucalyptus oil on the skin or in water will make the procedure even more effective.

For insomnia and stress, a hot shower works better than any other depressant. If you are upset or have trouble sleeping, then 10 minutes of a hot shower will calm your body, nerves and mind. Adding lavender oil will help even more since it is natural natural remedy for relaxation.

Taking a hot or lukewarm shower will not permanently cure chronic muscle pain, but it will provide significant pain relief. 15 minutes spent under hot water, improve blood circulation in the body, relax muscles and help sore joints. The heat will stimulate blood circulation and cause blood flow to the joints, muscles, and tendons. This is often how athletes relieve muscle pain after hard training.

One of the main causes of headaches is spasm blood vessels. As a result of exposure to hot water, the condition of the blood vessels is normalized, and the migraine recedes.

Clean pores.

A hot shower cleanses the skin. Throughout the day, we come across dirt particles, toxins and other substances. They get on the skin and pollute it, clog pores and lead to many unpleasant consequences, such as acne and pimples. Heat opens and cleanses our pores, and showering with hot water will give your skin a healthier, fresher appearance.

Hot shower:

1) Has calming effect. Stand under the hot stream and let the water flow down your spine. This massage will wash away all your negative emotions.

2) Removes dead skin cells that clog your body's pores with dust and other toxins.

3) Take such a shower when you have a cold. One-time continuous use will cleanse the nasal mucosa and make breathing easier. A few drops of essential oils (such as eucalyptus or juniper) will only enhance this effect.

4) People suffering from migraines have long noticed that taking a hot shower relieves headache, as it relieves muscle tension.

The benefits of hardening have been proven for a long time: the procedure helps strengthen the immune system, improve the condition of the skin and blood vessels. Experienced specialists It is recommended to take a cold shower even in winter time, and do it better in the morning, then the benefit will be maximum: the invigorating procedure activates metabolic processes and tones the entire body before the working day. However, it is worth knowing first about possible contraindications and hardening rules.

Benefits of a cold shower

Useful procedure widely used in spa salons to activate blood circulation. Wherein cool shower promotes saturation of skin cells with water and oxygen, due to which appearance covers improves. In addition, ice water helps fight cellulite, varicose veins, relaxes muscles, and stimulates skin renewal. In addition, cold showers are very beneficial for hair, as it strengthens it, makes it shinier, and prevents the formation of dandruff and the development of alopecia. Cool water reduces production sebum, making your hair less oily.

An invigorating ice shower provokes the production of red blood cells and increases the body's resistance to any infections/viruses. The procedure is ideal for the prevention of colds and flu, helps to tone the body and stimulate mental activity. Cold water - excellent remedy against depression, as it provokes the production of happiness hormones.

For men

Icy water procedures are especially useful for men as they increase physical strength and activate mental ability, which occurs due to a surge of adrenaline in the blood. As a result regular procedures, V male body the following changes occur:

the energy charge increases;
the heart rate increases, blood flow activates;
testosterone production increases;
the quality of seminal fluid improves.

For women

An invigorating cool shower stimulates the removal of waste products from the body, which can slow down metabolism. In addition, for women, the procedure is especially useful because it helps fight fatty nodules under the skin (cellulite). Action ice water on the skin is invaluable, it provides a rejuvenating effect, tones the skin, smoothing out wrinkles, making stretch marks less noticeable. In addition, for women's health it is important to take contrasting souls to avoid development gynecological diseases.

How to take a cold shower correctly

To prevent the procedure from causing harm, you should not immediately start doing long water procedures, standing under an icy stream for 10-15 minutes. It is very important to prepare your body for douches. To do this, use the following tips:

the bathroom should have a moderate temperature (it should not be cold);
the first procedures should be carried out not under ice, but under cool water (32-34 degrees), gradually reducing the temperature;
the duration of the first procedures should be limited to 1-2 minutes;
You shouldn’t immediately stand under the cold stream, it’s better to gradually immerse your legs, arms, and then your body and face under it;
After the procedure, be sure to rub yourself with a towel and do a warming light massage.

In the morning

If it is better to take a warm shower before bed, then cool, invigorating water procedures are best done in the morning. How to take a cold shower in the morning? Immediately after sleep, it is ideal to do exercises to warm up the muscles, and only then do a douche. Total time The procedure should last 5-8 minutes, but it is better to start tempering from 1-2 minutes. You can put your head under cool water only when you get used to the procedure. After dousing, rub the skin until slightly reddened with a clean towel. natural fabric.

For weight loss

During skin contact with cold water there is a reduction small vessels. The body protects itself from freezing by activating blood flow, causing a slight increase in arterial pressure. This activates metabolism and the process of burning calories. It is optimal to use a contrast shower for weight loss, in which the water switches from hot to cold every 1-2 minutes. It is worth conducting such sessions 1-2 times a day, starting from early age.

If you often get colds accompanied by a runny nose, then you should lower your temperature slowly. Choose the optimal water temperature for yourself within 12-4 degrees. You need to pour the body from head to toe. If you shower after exercise, it is important to let your body cool down and dry off sweat. Long after physical activity It is impossible to be under a cold stream, as this can lead to hypothermia and a cold.

Contraindications for cold showers

Despite the numerous advantages of such hardening, harm from dousing is also possible. ice water. Usually, side effects arise when there are the following contraindications:

pregnancy (it is allowed to take cold water, but not ice shower, you can also do cooling foot baths when temperature conditions not lower than 18 degrees);
Availability colds;
exacerbation of chronic diseases;
the presence of pathologies of the nervous system.

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In the hot summer, all you want is a cold shower, but when winter sets in, the prospect of a hot shower seems very appealing. And although most of us switch to water this way different temperatures depending on the weather and how you feel, cold showers are considered to be a much healthier choice.

Taking a hot shower has many benefits, not to mention the fact that the rush of hot water running down your body is great for making you feel better. Here are the main benefits of taking a hot shower.

Relieves chest congestion and respiratory problems

Taking a hot shower helps relieve nasal congestion, congestion chest and other problems with respiratory system. Steam from a hot shower, especially in combination with the effect of eucalyptus or other essential oil, is able to dilute mucus and facilitate its removal.

Reduces muscle pain

Hot showers provide immediate relief from muscle pain. It acts like a hot compress and helps relieve tension. In addition, such a shower increases blood circulation in the body, making it healthier.

Promotes sleep

Hot water helps relieve stress and tension and calms your frayed nerves. It lowers your heart rate and thus calms you down. This is why hot showers are known to promote sleep.

Cares for skin

Also, a hot shower helps open the pores of the skin and helps soften and heal it. Taking such a shower to open the pores of the skin on the body is usually recommended in order to increase the effectiveness of moisturizers and to be able to deep cleansing skin.

Increases libido

Hot water can have a sensual effect on the human body. It has been noted that an aromatic hot shower can significantly increase libido.

While hot showers have certain benefits, they also have a few disadvantages. Here are some of them:

Affects the cardiovascular system

For people suffering from any type of cardiovascular disease, hot showers can be very harmful. It has been found to be capable of leading to hypertension, arrhythmia and other problems.

Inhibits physiological systems

Hot showers can increase body temperature (and thus acidity levels) and suppress the functioning of various physiological systems. This entails deterioration of health.

Affects skin and hair

Taking a hot shower opens the pores of the skin, and if they are not clogged, dirt and dust can enter the body through them, causing acne. In addition, hot water makes hair very fragile and weak, which is why it begins to break easily.

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian science, strongly recommends taking a cold shower instead of a hot shower. The benefits of cold showers have been discovered and studied over the years. Some of them are listed below.

Improves blood circulation

Cold showers improve blood circulation in the body, increasing blood flow to various bodies, and this differs from a hot shower, during which the blood mainly rushes to the skin. Good blood circulation helps to cope with various problems with the skin and heart and improves general state health. Cold water also lowers body temperature and helps combat heat.

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Heals the heart

Because cold showers increase circulation, blood circulates better throughout the body and arteries pump it more easily, thereby improving heart health. This helps keep the heart strong excellent condition. In addition, cold showers reduce blood pressure, clears clogged arteries and helps stabilize the circulatory system. As a result, there is a strengthening immune system body.

Improves skin and hair condition

Cold water helps close the pores of the skin on the body and head and thus prevents dirt from entering them, providing effective skin care. It strengthens hair follicles and makes hair stronger, cleaner, shinier and healthier. In addition, cold showers bring relief by soothing sunburned and inflamed skin.

Cleanses the body

A cold shower cleanses the body of dirt not only from the outside, but also from the inside. It does this by causing muscle contraction, which helps eliminate all waste and toxins from the body.

Cold showers have no particular disadvantages. The only case when taking such a shower is not recommended is the onset of menstruation in women. This is due to the fact that the woman’s body during this period is weakened and under pressure, so her organs and muscles require relaxation.

Although it can be difficult to completely switch from a hot shower to a cold one, it is noted that you can enjoy all the benefits of cold water listed above even by taking cold and hot showers alternately (contrast shower) or finishing your bath with a cold shower.

Of course, everyone knows about contrast showers. This is alternating cold and hot water. How to take a contrast shower, and how is it useful? Many people believe that a contrast shower is a panacea for various diseases, but this is not so. A contrast shower will invigorate you, refresh your skin, cleanse skin pores of dirt, and also improve blood circulation. The beneficial properties of such a shower will be strengthening the immune system, good workout for ligaments and blood vessels, which improves the metabolic rate in your body and will get rid of those extra few kilograms.

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Photo gallery: How to take a contrast shower and how it is useful

Contrast showers should not be taken during menstruation, with hypertension, or people with malignant tumor, spasms vascular system and vessels.

How to take a contrast shower correctly?
This type of shower should start with hot water. The temperature should be pleasant for the body. Then after 15-20 seconds you need to switch to cold water. And this needs to be repeated about three times. Afterwards you need to dry yourself well with a towel.

At first warm water, then when the body gets used to it, you need to turn on hot water for a few minutes, then cold water for a minute, hot water again for a few minutes, and one minute with cold water. You need to do this for about 10 minutes. You can do more if you have time.

All this is very simple to do, but behind such simplicity there is an excellent healing effect. If you regularly use a contrast shower every day, then:
1. All metabolic processes are activated.
2. Metabolism in the body improves.
3. The entire body is intensively cleansed.
4. Vessels and heart are strengthened.

And as a result, rejuvenation of the body, increased performance, improved health.
Everything is explained quite simply, the skin is a large organ in humans. With a contrast shower we train our skin and body and get pleasure from it. But such simple procedure must be done correctly, while main principle will be “do no harm.” Be sure to consult your doctor if you have diseases of the blood, blood vessels, heart, high blood pressure, or oncology.

Go?
1. With each procedure, you need to increase and decrease the temperature gradually. The body must get used to temperature changes.
2. Let's soak under warm water, then turn on the hot water. The body needs to be heated longer than cooled. It’s better to douse yourself with cold water. Take a bucket of cold water and pour it over yourself.
3. Pouring should always start from the top.
4. Don't let yourself freeze. After contrast shower There should be a feeling of pleasantness and cheerfulness, which means the procedure was carried out correctly. There is no need to strain your will to the detriment of your health. You need to relax and have fun.
5. After morning exercises, it is best to take a shower. At such a moment, the body is warmed up, the blood flows quickly, and it does not interfere with the sweat being washed off the body.
6. After a shower, you need to rub yourself with a hard terry towel. At the same time it stimulates the skin capillary circulation and additional massage.

The effect can be enhanced by such a procedure psychological methods. If you hum a song, your mood will lift, and if you repeat something like: “My body is getting healthier, younger and cleansed,” it will have an amazing effect.

Only over time is the healing effect of a contrast shower achieved. But you will notice it quickly. And if it becomes a habit for you, then this positive effect will last a lifetime.

Stay healthy.
Many have heard that contrast showers have a good effect on the human body, but not everyone knows what the contraindications are. Of course, a shower has a good effect on nervous system. Due to temperature changes, people get a boost of energy, skin tone increases, and blood vessels are trained. But at first, a person experiences discomfort from such a procedure. After all, he must learn to enjoy such stress, and this action must be done many times. Then there will be a need in the form of a contrast shower, it gives vigor during periods viral infections increases the body's resistance.

How should you use a contrast shower?
There is no need to go to extremes. Start at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Start with hot, end with cold water. Only your body should be under the shower. The duration of the procedure is up to 15 seconds. First, do moderately hot and pleasant cool water for up to 10 seconds. Gradually make more contrasting temperature changes.

It is recommended to dry thoroughly and warm up after the procedure. Don’t go outside right away, give your body time to get used to it. In the evening, use a contrast shower 3 hours before bedtime; do not forget that such a shower is invigorating.

Can you lose weight with a contrast shower?
A contrast shower will be useful for cellulite. The buttocks and abdomen should be massaged in a circular motion with the jet at a distance of up to ten centimeters from the body. The legs need to be massaged from the front from top to bottom, and from the back you need to do the opposite. By combining with exercises you can get good result in the fight against overweight and cellulite.

We now know how to take a contrast shower and how it can be useful. Contrasting hot and cold showers will help achieve good effect. The body has to adapt to the new temperature in a matter of time. This creates a lot of stress, and people who suffer from heart disease and circulatory system disorders should consult a doctor before taking a contrast shower. Elderly people who have overweight, problems with blood pressure should also be consulted with a doctor first; it is better to treat this with caution. A cold shower is a shock to the body. But, using a shower in this sequence hot, cold, hot, it is easy to strengthen positive action contrast shower for the entire circulatory system.