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I Am A God
Any of yall up on this? I stopped taking hot/warm showers a few weeks back......Only cold showers.....It's still a struggle at times 
but I do notice a difference (my skin no longer flares up and breaks out after a shower)....My skin is much better.
Ten Health Benefits of Cold Showers | Wake Up World
Here are some benefits
1. Strengthens Immunity
Cold showers are sometimes touted as a preventative tonic for colds, flu, and infections. An experiment in Prague studied the effect of cold water immersions on athletic young men. They immersed themselves in water at 14°C (57°F), three times a week for six weeks. Among many changes, they saw increased levels of two types of white blood cells: monocytes and lymphocytes. While certain lymphocytes are instrumental in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and toxins; monocytes are indirectly responsible for the engulfing and consuming of pathogens and foreign materials. Researchers believe that the increased metabolic rate, which results from the bodys attempt to warm itself up, activates the immune system and releases more white blood cells in response. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that people who take regular cold showers are less likely to develop colds, flus, and even some forms of cancer.
2. Improves Blood Circulation
Good blood circulation is vital for overall cardiovascular health. Alternating between hot and cold water while showering, is an easy way to improve circulation. When exposed to cold water, our arteries and veins constrict or tighten. This process is called vasoconstriction. The tightening helps blood to flow at a higher pressure as now there is less space for the blood to flow, meaning circulation will improve. Vasodilation, the opposite effect, and is done when we are exposed to heat. The natural tendency of the body when it is exposed to cold is that your blood rapidly circulates to your vital organs to keep them warm, hence increasing your overall blood circulation. Why should you be conscious of having good circulation? Well, it prevents such problems as hypertension, hardening of the arteries, and the appearance of varicose veins. Good circulation improves the performance of your system and thus help looking and feeling better.
3. Regulates Temperature
Cold showers provide a gentle form of stress that leads to thermogenesis (internal generation of body heat), which in turn activates the bodys adaptive repair systems. If you suffer from chronically cold hands and feet, or feel that you sweat an abnormal amount, try a cold shower.
4. Promotes Weight Loss / Increases Metabolism
Brown fat, as opposed to white fat is heavily involved in burning energy. Exposure to cold naturally stimulates the production of these brown fats. These cells burn glucose to try and produce as much heat energy as possible. Having a higher amount of brown fat leads to more energy being burned per second and therefore, more weight is lost. As a result of the increased brown fat levels, and the increased blood pressure and body temperature, chemical reactions in the body will happen faster than they would have without regular cold showers. An increased metabolism is what a lot of people seek for because it means that any process in the body will become more efficient; meaning more weight loss will be seen and more growth/repair of muscles and otherwise will be seen.
5. Alleviates Depression
Depression is yet another thing that cold showers can help and prevent. Research at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University indicates that cold water has a stimulating effect on the brains blue spot, the main source of noradrenaline for our bodies. Noradrenaline is a chemical that might be used to help alleviate depression.
6. Improves Lymphatic Movement
The lymphatic system is a system of tubing separate from our blood vessels that is responsible for carrying away waste from your cells as well as help fight pathogens (disease). Unlike blood vessels, the lymphatic system does not have blood, it has lymph, which carries away waste products and white blood cells which handle infection. Also different from blood vessels is that the heart does not pump lymph around the body like it does the blood. The lymph relies on the contraction of muscles. This contraction squeezes the lymph up to the thoracic duct so that the lymph can mix with the blood and then be dealt with by organs. Cold showers cause whole-body contraction and this works excellently with the lymph system, squeezing the fluid up through the body. If the lymphatic system is compromised and not efficient, then the fluid pools at faraway places (usually the feet). This results in what is known as lymphedema (a type of edema).
7. Deepens Breathing
What you will notice as an effect of cold showers is that you begin inhaling very deeply. This is to try and combat the stress of the shock, the vasoconstriction and the overall need for oxygen to respire and keep oneself warm. This process opens up the lungs much like strenuous physical exercise does and results in a higher average intake of oxygen, which is good for many things like not feeling tired during the day and doing better at sport or other exercises.
8. Keeps Skin and Hair Healthy
It is well known that hot water dries out our skin and hair. On the other hand, cold water can make our hair look shinier and our skin look healthier by tightening cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged, thus reducing blemishes like acne. Cold water also contributes to detoxification which results in the squeezing of toxins and waste products out of the skin. This detoxification has a good effect on the skin which appears more clean and young. Additionally, the cold water closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger and prevents dirt from easily accumulating within our scalp. Stronger hair, of course, prevents hair from easily falling out and it helps in slowing down overall hair loss.
9. Increases Energy and Wellbeing
There are plenty of mental benefits to ending your shower with cold water. The ancient samurai warriors used to pour buckets of cold river water on their heads every morning in a Shinto practice called Misogi. This was a purification ritual on a spiritual level. They believe that it cleansed their spirit and helped start a fresh new day. A cold shower can definitely leave one feeling invigorated and energized. The heart starts pumping, and the rush of blood through the body helps shake off the lethargy of the previous nights sleep. Additionally, while there are not many studies to confirm, many people swear that cold showers are a definite stress reducer.
10. Increases Hormone Production
Cold water showers have the ability to increase hormone production and activity by giving the bodys glands a boost. For example, cold showers can be of great benefit to the reproductive system when trying to conceive a child. A mans testes are not meant to get too hot; thats why they hang outside of a mans body. Sperm counts decrease when the temperature of a mans testes increases. In fact, experiments done in the 1950s showed that hot baths were an effective contraceptive. Men who took a 30 minute hot bath every other day for 3 weeks were infertile for the next six months. More recently, the University of California at San Francisco did a study with men who were exposed to 30 minutes of wet heat (hot baths, saunas and such) a week. When the men cut this exposure out, their sperm count went up by 491%, and their sperms motility improved as well. While switching from a hot to cold shower may not have as dramatic an effect, if youre trying to reproduce, it surely wont hurt. Furthermore, it has been said that cold water therapy helps regulate the endocrine system (including the adrenals and thyroid).
How to Start
Gradually adjusting from hot to cold showers is recommended. For many, a drastic change in temperature would be too much a stress to their body. Push yourself to step outside your comfort zone, while at the same time listen to what your body can handle. A great way to implement cold showers into your daily routine is by turning the water to cold for the last 30 seconds to a minute of your shower. Give it a try and see what benefits you experience. Who knows, maybe the secret to the fountain of youth is hidden within cold showers.
Ten Health Benefits of Cold Showers | Wake Up World
Pros of cold showers:
~Strengthens the immune system (this happens when your cold showers are kept under approx. 10 minutes, that amount of time can vary with your body type.)

~Flushes toxins from the skin

~Increases blood circulation which helps flush out toxins everywhere in the body (This is especially beneficial for the muscles and surface of the skin.)

~Promotes growth and repair of the circulatory system by stimulating capillary beds often left to "stagnate" with blood

~Keeps the pores of you skin more or less closed during the shower (You dont absorb as much of the water and any products you are putting on your skin, which is very important with all the garbage added to our water like chlorine and fluoride as well as any toxins in your soaps, etc. The human body absorbs water and personal care products more readily in a regular hot shower because the pores are opened wide from the heat.)
~Less steam is made in your cold showers because it is not hot (Therefore less chlorine is inhaled into the lungs through the steam.)
~Although this is counter intuitive, in the winter, cold showers are the best thing to keep you warm for the rest of the day (It's ideal to have a heater in your bathroom so that as soon as you step out of the shower you can quickly towel off and have warm air on your skin.)
~You save money on your energy bill
~You will have a shorter shower time
~Increases fertility in men (Cooler temperatures on the testicles raises sperm count, but of course too much cold water for too long would be counterproductive. Even if you don't intend to conceive a child, having high male fertility is a source of strength and longevity according to the ancient Taoists and traditional Chinese doctors.)

~Builds courage and will power (A.k.a. nerve force, which makes other tasks in life easier to conquer with the "soul mirror" exercise.)

~Hot showers continually wash natural oils from your skin (Your body will often compensate by either producing more oil or not enough. The oil made by your body will always be better than any topical moisturizer you may be shelling out lots of money for, so why wash it off every day in a hot shower? The oil made by your body is not dirty unless your diet and environment is.)

~They are one of the great antiaging secrets for keeping your skin tight, elastic and vibrant

~Has an anti-depressant effect on your mood

~Balances the autonomic nervous system (This makes you feel relaxed and peaceful, yet still alert, when you get out of the shower.)
~Helps you develop the ability to handle lower temperatures while maintaining your body heat (No more complaining about cold weather! As a born and raised Canadian, people complaining about cold weather is one of my biggest pet peeves. If you can't take the cold, get out of the freezer!)
~Cleanses your body and mind of negative emotions that are your own or picked up from others

~Contributes to your longevity potential

~Wakes you up in the morning!
cold showers, water secrets, benefits of water, cold shower, factors of longevity
Cons of cold showers (when it might be best to avoid them):
(In the case of a need to avoid cold showers for any health reasons as listed below, luke warm water can be used in its place to avoid the negative effects of a hot shower.)
~Women who are menstruating (Some women find it too much to handle during this time. Then again, it could help as well.)


~Women after the 7th month of pregnancy (This all depends on your reaction to the water. If you're not thrown into shock by the cold water, it might be OK.)
~Immediately after a man has ejaculated (His body is focused on making new sperm cells and semen at this time, so cold showers can be a bit too stressful.)

~Suffering from an eating disorder

~If you are underweight (This usually goes along with having a low body temperature and a general metabolic weakness which might prevent your body from generating enough heat to withstand the cold temperatures.)


~Immediately after a vigorous workout (Start hot and finish cold to avoid muscle cramping, it can happen!)


~Some people have experienced cold showers making depression worse (Although it has also been said that cold showers can help depression, it's best to use your own judgement.)
but I do notice a difference (my skin no longer flares up and breaks out after a shower)....My skin is much better. Ten Health Benefits of Cold Showers | Wake Up World
Here are some benefits
1. Strengthens Immunity
Cold showers are sometimes touted as a preventative tonic for colds, flu, and infections. An experiment in Prague studied the effect of cold water immersions on athletic young men. They immersed themselves in water at 14°C (57°F), three times a week for six weeks. Among many changes, they saw increased levels of two types of white blood cells: monocytes and lymphocytes. While certain lymphocytes are instrumental in eliminating bacteria, viruses, and toxins; monocytes are indirectly responsible for the engulfing and consuming of pathogens and foreign materials. Researchers believe that the increased metabolic rate, which results from the bodys attempt to warm itself up, activates the immune system and releases more white blood cells in response. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that people who take regular cold showers are less likely to develop colds, flus, and even some forms of cancer.
2. Improves Blood Circulation
Good blood circulation is vital for overall cardiovascular health. Alternating between hot and cold water while showering, is an easy way to improve circulation. When exposed to cold water, our arteries and veins constrict or tighten. This process is called vasoconstriction. The tightening helps blood to flow at a higher pressure as now there is less space for the blood to flow, meaning circulation will improve. Vasodilation, the opposite effect, and is done when we are exposed to heat. The natural tendency of the body when it is exposed to cold is that your blood rapidly circulates to your vital organs to keep them warm, hence increasing your overall blood circulation. Why should you be conscious of having good circulation? Well, it prevents such problems as hypertension, hardening of the arteries, and the appearance of varicose veins. Good circulation improves the performance of your system and thus help looking and feeling better.
3. Regulates Temperature
Cold showers provide a gentle form of stress that leads to thermogenesis (internal generation of body heat), which in turn activates the bodys adaptive repair systems. If you suffer from chronically cold hands and feet, or feel that you sweat an abnormal amount, try a cold shower.
4. Promotes Weight Loss / Increases Metabolism
Brown fat, as opposed to white fat is heavily involved in burning energy. Exposure to cold naturally stimulates the production of these brown fats. These cells burn glucose to try and produce as much heat energy as possible. Having a higher amount of brown fat leads to more energy being burned per second and therefore, more weight is lost. As a result of the increased brown fat levels, and the increased blood pressure and body temperature, chemical reactions in the body will happen faster than they would have without regular cold showers. An increased metabolism is what a lot of people seek for because it means that any process in the body will become more efficient; meaning more weight loss will be seen and more growth/repair of muscles and otherwise will be seen.
5. Alleviates Depression
Depression is yet another thing that cold showers can help and prevent. Research at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University indicates that cold water has a stimulating effect on the brains blue spot, the main source of noradrenaline for our bodies. Noradrenaline is a chemical that might be used to help alleviate depression.
6. Improves Lymphatic Movement
The lymphatic system is a system of tubing separate from our blood vessels that is responsible for carrying away waste from your cells as well as help fight pathogens (disease). Unlike blood vessels, the lymphatic system does not have blood, it has lymph, which carries away waste products and white blood cells which handle infection. Also different from blood vessels is that the heart does not pump lymph around the body like it does the blood. The lymph relies on the contraction of muscles. This contraction squeezes the lymph up to the thoracic duct so that the lymph can mix with the blood and then be dealt with by organs. Cold showers cause whole-body contraction and this works excellently with the lymph system, squeezing the fluid up through the body. If the lymphatic system is compromised and not efficient, then the fluid pools at faraway places (usually the feet). This results in what is known as lymphedema (a type of edema).
7. Deepens Breathing
What you will notice as an effect of cold showers is that you begin inhaling very deeply. This is to try and combat the stress of the shock, the vasoconstriction and the overall need for oxygen to respire and keep oneself warm. This process opens up the lungs much like strenuous physical exercise does and results in a higher average intake of oxygen, which is good for many things like not feeling tired during the day and doing better at sport or other exercises.
8. Keeps Skin and Hair Healthy
It is well known that hot water dries out our skin and hair. On the other hand, cold water can make our hair look shinier and our skin look healthier by tightening cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged, thus reducing blemishes like acne. Cold water also contributes to detoxification which results in the squeezing of toxins and waste products out of the skin. This detoxification has a good effect on the skin which appears more clean and young. Additionally, the cold water closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger and prevents dirt from easily accumulating within our scalp. Stronger hair, of course, prevents hair from easily falling out and it helps in slowing down overall hair loss.
9. Increases Energy and Wellbeing
There are plenty of mental benefits to ending your shower with cold water. The ancient samurai warriors used to pour buckets of cold river water on their heads every morning in a Shinto practice called Misogi. This was a purification ritual on a spiritual level. They believe that it cleansed their spirit and helped start a fresh new day. A cold shower can definitely leave one feeling invigorated and energized. The heart starts pumping, and the rush of blood through the body helps shake off the lethargy of the previous nights sleep. Additionally, while there are not many studies to confirm, many people swear that cold showers are a definite stress reducer.
10. Increases Hormone Production
Cold water showers have the ability to increase hormone production and activity by giving the bodys glands a boost. For example, cold showers can be of great benefit to the reproductive system when trying to conceive a child. A mans testes are not meant to get too hot; thats why they hang outside of a mans body. Sperm counts decrease when the temperature of a mans testes increases. In fact, experiments done in the 1950s showed that hot baths were an effective contraceptive. Men who took a 30 minute hot bath every other day for 3 weeks were infertile for the next six months. More recently, the University of California at San Francisco did a study with men who were exposed to 30 minutes of wet heat (hot baths, saunas and such) a week. When the men cut this exposure out, their sperm count went up by 491%, and their sperms motility improved as well. While switching from a hot to cold shower may not have as dramatic an effect, if youre trying to reproduce, it surely wont hurt. Furthermore, it has been said that cold water therapy helps regulate the endocrine system (including the adrenals and thyroid).
How to Start
Gradually adjusting from hot to cold showers is recommended. For many, a drastic change in temperature would be too much a stress to their body. Push yourself to step outside your comfort zone, while at the same time listen to what your body can handle. A great way to implement cold showers into your daily routine is by turning the water to cold for the last 30 seconds to a minute of your shower. Give it a try and see what benefits you experience. Who knows, maybe the secret to the fountain of youth is hidden within cold showers.
Ten Health Benefits of Cold Showers | Wake Up World
Pros of cold showers:
~Strengthens the immune system (this happens when your cold showers are kept under approx. 10 minutes, that amount of time can vary with your body type.)

~Flushes toxins from the skin

~Increases blood circulation which helps flush out toxins everywhere in the body (This is especially beneficial for the muscles and surface of the skin.)

~Promotes growth and repair of the circulatory system by stimulating capillary beds often left to "stagnate" with blood

~Keeps the pores of you skin more or less closed during the shower (You dont absorb as much of the water and any products you are putting on your skin, which is very important with all the garbage added to our water like chlorine and fluoride as well as any toxins in your soaps, etc. The human body absorbs water and personal care products more readily in a regular hot shower because the pores are opened wide from the heat.)
~Less steam is made in your cold showers because it is not hot (Therefore less chlorine is inhaled into the lungs through the steam.)
~Although this is counter intuitive, in the winter, cold showers are the best thing to keep you warm for the rest of the day (It's ideal to have a heater in your bathroom so that as soon as you step out of the shower you can quickly towel off and have warm air on your skin.)
~You save money on your energy bill
~You will have a shorter shower time
~Increases fertility in men (Cooler temperatures on the testicles raises sperm count, but of course too much cold water for too long would be counterproductive. Even if you don't intend to conceive a child, having high male fertility is a source of strength and longevity according to the ancient Taoists and traditional Chinese doctors.)

~Builds courage and will power (A.k.a. nerve force, which makes other tasks in life easier to conquer with the "soul mirror" exercise.)

~Hot showers continually wash natural oils from your skin (Your body will often compensate by either producing more oil or not enough. The oil made by your body will always be better than any topical moisturizer you may be shelling out lots of money for, so why wash it off every day in a hot shower? The oil made by your body is not dirty unless your diet and environment is.)

~They are one of the great antiaging secrets for keeping your skin tight, elastic and vibrant

~Has an anti-depressant effect on your mood

~Balances the autonomic nervous system (This makes you feel relaxed and peaceful, yet still alert, when you get out of the shower.)
~Helps you develop the ability to handle lower temperatures while maintaining your body heat (No more complaining about cold weather! As a born and raised Canadian, people complaining about cold weather is one of my biggest pet peeves. If you can't take the cold, get out of the freezer!)
~Cleanses your body and mind of negative emotions that are your own or picked up from others

~Contributes to your longevity potential

~Wakes you up in the morning!
cold showers, water secrets, benefits of water, cold shower, factors of longevity
Cons of cold showers (when it might be best to avoid them):
(In the case of a need to avoid cold showers for any health reasons as listed below, luke warm water can be used in its place to avoid the negative effects of a hot shower.)
~Women who are menstruating (Some women find it too much to handle during this time. Then again, it could help as well.)


~Women after the 7th month of pregnancy (This all depends on your reaction to the water. If you're not thrown into shock by the cold water, it might be OK.)
~Immediately after a man has ejaculated (His body is focused on making new sperm cells and semen at this time, so cold showers can be a bit too stressful.)

~Suffering from an eating disorder

~If you are underweight (This usually goes along with having a low body temperature and a general metabolic weakness which might prevent your body from generating enough heat to withstand the cold temperatures.)


~Immediately after a vigorous workout (Start hot and finish cold to avoid muscle cramping, it can happen!)


~Some people have experienced cold showers making depression worse (Although it has also been said that cold showers can help depression, it's best to use your own judgement.)
