Cold Therapy Changed My Life
If I said to you, you could take a pill and you will be left with a better immune system, less muscle pain, increased energy (crackhead like), increased metabolism and a number of other health benefits. I’m going to assume that you would want the pill.
I would definitely want the pill! Luckily I don’t need it because I managed to figure out a way of having all of these benefits in my life by changing one tiny habit of mine. Cold Showers.
3 years ago for whatever reason I decided to try a cold shower, one random day just because. I can’t remember the thought process that led me to this point but i’m glad it did.
I mean it when I say I have seen more benefits from cold water therapy than any prescribed medication, vitamins or substances. I’ll quickly talk you through my day so you can understand where I am coming from. I wake up naturally most days as I don’t set an alarm, I leave my curtains open while I sleep to allow the sunlight to gradually wake me up while resetting my circadian rhythm (The Bodies Clock). I quite often still feel sleepy, as most do when opening their eyes in the morning. The old me would feel this and head straight back to nap town. However upon my awakening three years ago, I know I have a quick fix to get away from that sluggish feeling.
A Freezing Cold Shower.
This may sound like the last thing you would want to do at 7am but you have to trust me on this one. It is a gradual process and took me a while to fall in love with, nonetheless i didn’t quit. I started off with warm showers, slowly turning it to get colder and colder. Then I would go in with the cold but not last long. Now It’s around 3/5 minutes, No warmth, Every morning, Everyday, all year round.
During the shower I naturally get the buzz from the freezing cold water and it wakes me up completely, it gives me energy instantly. Fast forwarding slightly and I’m going about my day still living off this buzz. This is no joke. Everyday I feel like i’ve woken up and taken a heap of happy drugs that give me extreme zoomies and energy to last the majority of the day.
Now I do have some facts and figures to hopefully influence your morning habits so you come to the cold side with me.
It really gives the same high as any happy drug would, this is acquired as it has the same uplifting potency as cocaine but it rises gradually over a two and a half hour period, meaning that you feel the motivational benefits for over fifteen times as long.
Even taking a brief dip in cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes will increase baseline dopamine levels for at least 2-5 hours.
Dopamine is known as the ‘feel good’ hormone, which explains the zoomie like energy I feel everyday from this small yet effective habit.
I have been talking about cold showers for what feels like forever because it is something that is overlooked by a lot of people when i talk to them about their physical and mental health.
SO here are my facts to sway you (freeze you)
Proven to decrease muscle pain
Proven to decrease joint pain
It helps towards a speedy recovery (working out, injury)
Proven to decrease inflammation in the body
Proven to increase cognitive function (thinking clearer)
Proven to increase mood (less depresso)
Proven to increase metabolism (helps you to lose weight)
Along side all of this i’ll be slightly more technical.
It it leads to something called ‘Hormesis’ in the body which is a natural survival mechanism that our bodies go into when in starvation mode and freezing temperatures. It is built into our genes to help us adapt to these changes in environment.
Exposing yourself to cold water for a period of time (2-20 minutes) increases norepinephrine by 200-300% which is a neurotransmitter made by the adrenal glands that when increased, increases antioxidants net work in glutathione leading to an increased ability to detox. It helps protect against DNA damage, also leading to an increase in the number of mitochondria which boosts energy. Lastly T cells increase which help protect and prevent infection, viruses and the growth of bacteria.
If you got this far then thank you/well done. This was technical.
That one little habit is looking very much more tempting now I hope.
Your body looks after you, so try your best to look after it too.