Dr. G’s Top Health “Hack”
Many of you ask what I do to stay so young and vibrant.
There’s no “one thing”—no pill or food or activity—that does the trick all on its own.
Everything works together in tandem to rejuvenate your cells, boost cellular energy, optimize your hormones, set your circadian rhythm, and more.
But…
If I you want to know a single health “hack” that I practice on a regular basis… one that can improve circulation, reduce stress, eliminate pain, and MUCH more, then I’ve got just the thing.
You’ve heard the adage, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
I’ve got a new one for you: A shower a day keeps the doctor away.
A COLD shower.
It’s an ancient practice called hydrotherapy, and it simply involves immersing your body in cold water.
It’s not comfortable, but it’s effective.
In one study, taking a 30-second cold shower every day for a month reduced the incidence of sickness by 29 percent.
Some research has indicated this could be due to a boost in the immune system that occurs with cold water immersion.
It also “turns on” your cardiovascular system, increasing your heart rate and your blood pressure, and improving circulation in your deeper tissues.
It’s like doing a workout (but without the workout).
Cold water causes your blood vessels to constrict. Then, when you get out of the shower, your body works extra hard to warm itself up.
This helps increase your body’s blood flow.
In addition, cold water therapy has been shown to:
- Lower cortisol levels, which can help reduce stress.
- Reduce pain by triggering something called stress-induced analgesia, which occurs when your body suppresses its pain response in response to a stressful stimulus.
- Reduce muscle soreness and fatigue, which is why you often see professional athletes soaking in ice baths after performing.
- Numb pain.
Personally, I take advantage of cold hydrotherapy as often as I can by sitting in the natural cold spring pools nearby my home here in Arizona.
But if you don’t have the benefits of a natural spring near your house, you can still glean the benefits by taking a cold shower.
(It’s not quite as beneficial as full immersion, but it’ll still do the trick.)
Just be careful.
Cold water can be risky if you have heart disease or existing high blood pressure. Before taking the plunge, check with your doctor if you’re already at risk.
P.S. I recently wrote about a different kind of cold therapy that could ELIMINATE pain. Click here to read about it.
SOURCE:
Bottoms, L. (2022, May 1.) “Cold Shower a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”—But Not for Those With Heart Disease. Watch Out. The Print. https://theprint.in/features/cold-shower-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away-but-not-for-those-with-heart-diseases-watch-out/934822/
