Can Cold Showers Increase Your Muscle Gains? Ice and cold water have been used by man for centuries. In fact, in some civilizations, a cold bath was given more importance than a hot bath…
And now ice baths are also a muscle recovery exercise for many elite athletes. Here we are telling you three ways to bathe with cold water, especially if you are a bodybuilder.
Bodybuilders’ trick to take care of their muscles: cold showers
1. It can speed up your metabolism
Cold stimulates the metabolism. The body burns fat for heat in a process known as thermogenesis. If you submerge your body in the cold, you will dramatically increase fat burning to maintain homeostasis. A 2014 study by Naturopathy Clinical, SDM College of Naturopathy and Vedic Sciences, Ujire, India concluded that immersion at 14 °C can increase the metabolic rate by up to 350%. (40 Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism to Lose Weight).
Cold water has also been found to stimulate brown adipose tissue (BAT), also known as brown fat, which may sound like a bad thing, but brown fat actually converts other fats into heat. plays an important role in conversion. (Weight Loss: What Is Brown Fat and How Can Fitness Help You Lose Weight?)
2. It Can Increase Your Testosterone
Several studies have found a link between taking a cold shower and higher levels of testosterone. And there is a lot of logic behind it. Other studies have concluded that the testicles function better at cooler temperatures. In addition, the ancient Greeks also noticed a difference in size between the Mediterranean and the Scandinavians. Cold temperatures were thought to be the root cause of the large, hairy body.
Cold showers reduce cortisol, which negatively affects testosterone, and help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which aids in deep sleep. (Best Testosterone Booster for Men Over 50).
3. They fill you with energy to start the day
It may seem counterintuitive that something that helps you sleep may also be good in the morning, but think of it as a workout. Antidepressants stimulate the release of endorphins, stimulate blood flow, increase heart rate/metabolism, and activate the nervous system, connecting the mind to the body. Furthermore, the mental discipline required to wade in the icy water is far more intense in the morning. Try taking a 5-minute cold shower and see how they affect you.
