Former Navy SEAL Explains Benefits Of A Cold Shower

He said: "Cold water will wake you up, without a doubt, and it will keep you awake, but it has more health benefits than anything else.

"In SEAL training you spend a lot of time in cold water and there's actually some science to the madness."

He went on to say that professional athletes use cold water after a workout 'all the time' as it 'increases recovery'.

Emerson said: "It vasoconstricts the entire body, squeezing out all of that lactic acid so that you can feel good to go the next day, and be ready for the next day training."

Emerson says the cold water is a 'therapy' for the body post-training or workout that helps keep you and your body healthy as well as keeping inflammation down.

He said: "It vasoconstricts everything down and allows you to keep moving forward, hopefully without any more injury."

However, Emerson does then go on to admit that it was 'torture'.

Well, I suppose one good thing about starting the day with a bit of torture is that at least things can only really get better from that point on, eh?

Emerson isn't the only person to sing the praises of ice cold showers - earlier this year, participants in the 30-day cold shower challenge said it left them with healthier looking skin and hair, more energy and increased sex drive, not to mention helping them feel 'more relaxed and motivated to work out'.

They found that in the groups that took the cold showers there was a 29 percent drop in sickness absence and they also reported an increase in perceived energy levels.

So there you go - brave the cold water and you might end up feeling a lot better.