How the cold can lower stress
Incredible findings on how the cold can boost the immune system, lower cortisol and even raise serotonin.
Decreasing Stress
There are many ways the cold is believed to lower stress in the body, one of which is called hardening. This is when the body is exposed to small amounts of stress caused by the cold, and the nervous system gradually gets used to handling small amounts of stress, so it becomes less impactful when it appears in day to day life.
Throughout our bodies, we have a sixty-six thousand miles long vascular system that has been deprived of stimulation. This vascular system contains millions of small muscles in our veins, capillaries and arteries that are used to help blood flow. However, by wearing clothes and protecting ourselves from the elements, these muscles have not been exercised and have become weak. The heart has to compensate for this as can be seen in the heart rate. Due to this increased heart rate, our brain thinks that we are in a stressful situation and therefore produces an increased amount of cortisol, the brains fight or flight hormone. This increases things such as stress or anxiety as our brains think we are in danger. A cold shower alone can exercise the vascular system and lower the heart rate anywhere from 20-30 beats per minute. This not only lowers stress but will strengthen your cardiovascular system reducing the chances of cardiovascular disease.
Fighting Depression
A clinical trial in 2008 found that taking a cold shower for 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week, was shown to help mitigate and decrease symptoms of depression.
Similar to electroshock therapy, cold water sends an electrical impulse to your brain. This shocks your brain and nerve system, increasing alertness and energy. However, endorphins may also be released, causing increases in certain brain chemicals, such as dopamine and oxytocin, also known as the happiness chemical. This encourages feelings of optimism and general positivity in life.
Immune System
The cold and warm stimulations constrict and dilate your blood vessels, which strengthens your immune system. A scientific study also shows that cold showers may boost the number of white blood cells in your body, which are used to protect against diseases. Researchers also believe that the increased metabolic rate, caused by the cold, also stimulates the immune system.
Losing weight
Scientists have also found evidence that exposure to the cold speeds up metabolism, as well as stimulating the generation of brown fat, a type of fat tissue that generates energy by burning calories. The combination of these two factors shows that the cold could also prove useful in losing weight or fat.
Focus
Cold showers wake your body up and induce a higher state of alertness, as well as provoking you to take deep breaths. This stimulates carbon dioxide in the body, which helps you concentrate and stay focused throughout the day.
Not only this but it takes a strong mind to endure the cold, and doing so may increase willpower in other areas of your day to day life.
How you can do it
It is recommended to carry on your showers as normal except for the last 2-5 minutes of cold. It is advised to start with 30 seconds of cold water at the end of your shower and work up to two and a half minutes over the course of ten days. To achieve the best experience and results do not contract muscles or become tense but follow your breathing with long breathes out and shorter breaths in. By doing this instead of the body panicking and going into fight or flight mode it is able to adapt and cope with the cold. After ten days, your bodies vascular system will be fully recovered and at its natural point.
