Cold Showers: The Seven Surprising Health Benefits Everyone Should Know …

Most of us have been caught in that skin-cringing, and often dreaded moment of being the last one to shower. If you haven’t then chances are that you’ve had someone walk into the bathroom, and flush the toilet mid-shower, leaving you covered in bone-chilling cold water.

In these moments, instead of indulging in a hot luxurious shower, especially during the bitter cold winter months, we find ourselves shivering with discomfort and anger, but this may actually be advantageous to our health. Coined as the “James Bond Shower,” or often 

referred to as a “Scottish Shower,” turning the temperature down to freezing cold at the end can provide surprising benefits for our body and skin.

Check down below to learn about all the great things occasional cold water can do for your body — we swear it will make you change your mind about chilly showers!

Benefit #1: Gives You A Boost Of Energy

Taking a cold shower in the morning, and feeling cold water pour down over our body seems more horrifying than soothing. However, the deep breathing in response to our body’s shock helps us keep warm, as it’s increases our overall oxygen intake. Thus, our heart rate will also increase, releasing a rush of blood through our entire body. This gives us a natural dose of energy for the day.

Katherine Hepburn, a Hollywood actress, was a fan of cold showers. She began taking them daily after being pushed by Dr. Thomas Norval Hepburn, a urologist and pioneer in social hygiene, The New York Times reported. Katherine would take ice-cold baths or showers during childhood and for the rest of her life — she would advise others to do so as well. The actress swore by cold showers, and had a high energy level to support her claims.

Benefit #2: Eases Tight, Sore Muscles

According to Everyday Health, alternating between hot and cold temperatures treats your sore muscles in a nonabrasive way.

Cold temperatures restrict blood flow to the affected area, which reduces swelling and inflammation — while heat loosens up muscles, allowing more healing blood and oxygen to enter them more quickly.

Alternating between cold and hot water in the shower is an easy way to treat sooth tired muscles without having to reach for the ice pack or heating pad.