Cold showers - why do it?

After listening to an interview with Wim Hof “the iceman”, I decided to try cold showers. For the last two weeks, I have been increasing my cold shower time from about 10 seconds to 2 whole minutes. I admit that those first few seconds when the water changes from pleasantly warm to ice cold are shocking, but by the time you have counted to 10, you will start to feel a strange warmth from within. The true effect of these showers is felt only after you come out and dry yourself. Your body will be glowing, your mind super-alert, better than the best cup of coffee (not that I am giving up my morning espresso any time soon…)

Why the discomfort, you may ask. Well, the simple answer is hormetic stress is good for us. Exposure to low amounts of a toxic substance or stressor renders us more resistant to larger (and otherwise detrimental) doses of the same trigger. This adaptive response is known as hormesis (from the Greek "to set in motion"). Many studies have been done on the effects of mild stress on aging and longevity. At 63, I am all in for anything that will increase my stamina, strength, health and positive outlook on life. Just like intermittent fasting, cold showers are an easy way of creating the conditions in the body that will help the immune system become stronger. Specifically, cold helps to speed up the metabolism, reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, and sharpen focus. In this year of Covid-19 and so much stress in our lives, here is a simple way of de-stressing and feeling more alive than ever.

 When I get out of my cold shower, I feel a beautiful peaceful sensation enveloping me, it feels like walking on a cloud. Do you feel like coming with me on this journey? I’d love to hear from you if you do!