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People Who've Completed 30 Day Cold Shower Challenge Say It Has Incredible Health Benefits

People Who've Completed 30 Day Cold Shower Challenge Say It Has Incredible Health Benefits

People reported feeling more energised and less likely to get sick

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A 30 day cold shower challenge is gaining popularity online with many people hailing the 'spectacular results' and incredible benefits.

Now, I know that the idea of blasting yourself with freezing cold water might not sound like the most appealing in the world, but according to proponents, it has some pretty big pluses.

Researchers from ice.club, that runs the Cool Challenge, looked at the data from 3018 people who took part in the challenge in 2015 and took a cold shower for either 0, 30, 60 or 90 seconds for 30 days.

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.

PA

The study, from the Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam, found the positive effects kicked in after just 30 seconds and more than 90 percent of those who took part wanted to carry on taking cold showers in the future.

When researchers checked in with participants three months later, 60 percent had continued to use cold showers as part of their daily routine.

Research aside, one woman who committed to taking cold showers for a whole month said she seen a bunch of benefits, including having healthier looking skin and hair, not getting sick, increased sex-drive and feeling 'more relaxed and motivated to workout'.

PA

While someone else who gave it a go, said he felt it had enhanced his mood, lowered stress and anxiety and helped him feel 'completely awake in a few minutes'.

Sounds good to me.

If you fancy giving it a go, ice.club has some advice on how to get through your cold shower.

For starters, relax and keep your shoulders low, while remembering to breathe slowly, visualise a fire inside of you - you're going to need those warm thoughts.

Once you're ready, turn off the hot water as quickly, or as slowly, as you like.

They suggest to ease yourself in, start at the bottom with your feet and work your way up to your face before washing your entire body in the cold water.

You might want to have some warm, fluffy towels at the ready.
Pixabay

It might also help to massage yourself as the cold water hits.

Afterwards, get yourself dry and 'enjoy the glorious tingly feeling and warm glow'.

If you want to find out more information you can check out ice.club here.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

Topics: Weird