Cold showers better than a caffeine hit to kick-start body and mind for the day

Cold receptors in the skin respond to a freezing shower by sending electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain. Picture: iStock
And in a study last year involving more than 3000 volunteers, Dutch researchers reported that people who ended their showers with a 30-second hit of cold water were less likely to call in sick.
Participants also said taking a cold shower gave them an energy surge that felt similar to a caffeine hit each morning, with 64 per cent continuing the ritual after the trial had ended.
Many believe exposing the body to extremes of temperature creates a sort of “positive stress” that bolsters inner steel and relieves negative mental tension.
It’s a theory that has been popularised by Joel Runyon, the American ¬ultrarunner and blogger who trademarked the term Cold Shower Therapy after making a TED talk in 2012 in which he extolled the virtues of shunning hot water.
Runyon says doing it regularly makes you feel invincible, which presumably is why taking cold showers has taken off in the business world.
His talk has since been viewed almost a million times, and you can download an official CST app.
Short, cool showers also are recommended for eczema by dermatologists. They also boost circulation by stimulating blood flow to maintain body temperature. Many top athletes take ice baths and cold showers as part of their recovery from intense training sessions.
Chilly water lowers muscle temperature, and the theory is that this enhances repair by reducing inflammation.