CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cold showers and cold snaps are all the rage this year. Everyone from athletes to average Joes are turning their faucets from hot to cold in hopes of improving their health.
But is taking a cold shower good for you?
our sources
what we found
Melissa Young of the Cleveland Clinic said there is limited research on all the health benefits of taking cold showers.
“I think some of the most supportive literature is that it reduces pain and inflammation and promotes muscle recovery after exercise,” she says.
And are there any claims that taking cold showers will help you lose weight? The UCLA Health article says probably not.
They say your body expends more energy trying to warm up when you take a cold shower, but the result is only a small increase in calorie burn and metabolism. They emphasize that there are better and more effective ways to lose weight, such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet.
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However, Dr. Young says cold showers can help reduce inflammation, prevent muscle soreness, and reduce localized pain.
That's why Dr. Young said this method may be good for people who go to the gym or are just trying to get up in the morning.
However, Dr. Young adds that people need to ease into the cold water and suggests that some people avoid the cold altogether.
“It affects the sympathetic nervous system, so people with heart problems should avoid cold showers. They are concerned about things like arrhythmia and abnormal heart rhythms,” she said.
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