Does Cold Water Therapy and Ice Water Facials Help Improve Skin? (Part 1)

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In my last blog “ TOP 10 GIFT IDEAS TO PUT ON YOUR HOLIDAY LIST” I briefly mentioned in the towel warmer gift idea section that I do a 30 seconds cold water therapy near the end of my showers everyday.  There is so much information to cover that I needed a whole new blog to elaborate more on this topic.

I started to do this type of cold therapy early this year because I heard that it provide so many health benefits:  

✅Improve Your Immune System

The shock of cold water can stimulate your blood cells that fight off infections.  Boosting your immunity can fight off the common cold and viruses that are circulating around especially during this time of year.

✅Reduce Anxiety and Improve Your Mood

All mammals including humans adapted a reflex called the “Diving reflex” or “Mammalian diving response” (MDR).  When we are exposed to cold water, our heart rate slows down dramatically, our breathing slows down to conserve oxygen, and our blood vessels in our limbs are constricted to make sure enough blood flows to our vital organs such as our brain and heart.  Slowing down heart rate and blood pressure calms the body down  making us feel less anxious.  Also, our body will increase production of a neurotransmitter called “norepinephrine” and a happy hormone called “endorphins” when exposed to cold temperature.  Norepinephrine helps  regulate stress reactions and improve energy, attentiveness, and mood.  As a result, it can produce a feeling of calmness, happiness, and well-being.  Thus, cold water helps improve your mood and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

✅ Increase Body’s Metabolism

Since your body needs to spend energy to try to maintain your body’s temperature under the cold shower, this leads to the increase of your body’s metabolism and helps burn off calories.

✅ Improve Blood Circulation

Similar to applying the cold skin care products I mentioned in my previous blog, cold water constricts your blood vessels which in turn sends signals to your brain to go into “survival mode”, only supplying blood to the body's core and vital organs.  Through this process the blood naturally becomes rich in oxygen and nutrients and improves our body’s blood circulation.

✅ Reduce Inflammation 

Your blood vessels constrict under cold temperature will then expand back as your body starts to heat back up again.  As blood flows back, it also flushes out the inflammation you have accumulated in your body.  So cold showers help reduce inflammation and prevent muscle soreness.

With all these benefits, I have set my mind on continuing my daily 30 seconds cold water shock at the end of my showers.  Another reason that gives me this incentive is that I did end up purchasing the towel warmer I mentioned in my previous blog so now I have something to look forward to everytime I come out of my cold showers.  My kids love it too and always ask me to warm the towels up before they get into their showers.  If you haven’t gotten one yet, you need to.  You will not regret it!  

Cold water therapy is relatively safe and poses no health threat for most people. If you would like to give cold water therapy a try, don’t forget to consult your primary care physician first if you have any concerns or health problems.

 Stay tuned for the Part 2…

“Wow” Yourself!