Apart from food, water and diet, the temperature in which you shower is also an important factor in your overall health and wellbeing, both short term and long term. Some like it hot and others cold, but read on to discover the benefits of both, and which is better – you may be surprised!

Hot Shower Benefits

Release Tension : A hot shower can relieve tension and relax stiff muscles – the more powerful the showerhead, the better the experience!

: A hot shower can relieve tension and relax stiff muscles – the more powerful the showerhead, the better the experience! Calming Effects : Showering in hot water eases anxiety and stress. It has also been proven to increase the levels of oxytocin, the love hormone, in the body.

: Showering in hot water eases anxiety and stress. It has also been proven to increase the levels of oxytocin, the love hormone, in the body. A Natural Decongestant : Hot water produces steam which moisturizes the nasal passages to get rid of mucus and phlegm, acting as a natural decongestant.

: Hot water produces steam which moisturizes the nasal passages to get rid of mucus and phlegm, acting as a natural decongestant. Cleanses Skin : Steam from hot water opens up skin pores, enabling easier release of impurities.

: Steam from hot water opens up skin pores, enabling easier release of impurities. Improves Circulation : Hot water eases muscle and joint pains by loosening tissues, while simultaneously promoting blood flow and circulation in the body.

: Hot water eases muscle and joint pains by loosening tissues, while simultaneously promoting blood flow and circulation in the body. Warming Up : Showering with hot water is a great way to warm up in the morning before exercise to get your blood flowing and muscles ready.

: Showering with hot water is a great way to warm up in the morning before exercise to get your blood flowing and muscles ready. Natural Sedative : A hot shower before going to bed helps calm your mind and body, relieving tension to help you sleep better.

: A hot shower before going to bed helps calm your mind and body, relieving tension to help you sleep better. Natural Exfoliator : Hot water cleanses the skin, scraping off dead skin from the skin surface for fresher, cleaner skin.

: Hot water cleanses the skin, scraping off dead skin from the skin surface for fresher, cleaner skin. Promotes Weight Loss : Hot water enhances the body’s metabolism, aiding with weight loss.

: Hot water enhances the body’s metabolism, aiding with weight loss. Menstrual Cramps : Having a good hot soak is great for menstrual pain and cramps.

: Having a good hot soak is great for menstrual pain and cramps. Fights Headache : Rather than taking a painkiller, hop into a hot shower instead! It helps improve blood circulation and fight headaches.

: Rather than taking a painkiller, hop into a hot shower instead! It helps improve blood circulation and fight headaches. Kills Bacteria: Hot water is known to kill germs and harmful bacteria, keeping illness at bay.

Cold Shower Benefits

Natural Energizer : The rush of cold water especially early in the morning gets your heart beating faster, blood pumping harder, and alerts your nerve endings for a natural energy boost for the day.

: The rush of cold water especially early in the morning gets your heart beating faster, blood pumping harder, and alerts your nerve endings for a natural energy boost for the day. Protects Skin : Cold water protects your hair and skin from damage. It tightens pores and cuticles as well as the skin and scalp, keeping them less exposed to germs and bacteria.

: Cold water protects your hair and skin from damage. It tightens pores and cuticles as well as the skin and scalp, keeping them less exposed to germs and bacteria. Free Haircare : Cold water can make hair seem shinier, stronger and healthier as it prevents the hair from being stripped of its natural oils too quickly.

: Cold water can make hair seem shinier, stronger and healthier as it prevents the hair from being stripped of its natural oils too quickly. Improves Blood Circulation : The shock that the body gets when first being hit by cold water causes the arteries to release a rush of blood into the system, and promotes their ability to pump blood efficiently, keeping the heart healthy.

: The shock that the body gets when first being hit by cold water causes the arteries to release a rush of blood into the system, and promotes their ability to pump blood efficiently, keeping the heart healthy. Strengthens the Immune System : Cold water lowers blood pressure, clears blocked arteries and generally improves our immune systems.

: Cold water lowers blood pressure, clears blocked arteries and generally improves our immune systems. Speeds Up Muscle Recovery : The reason why people take cold showers after exercising or intense physical activity is not just to cool off – it is primarily to reduce muscle soreness.

: The reason why people take cold showers after exercising or intense physical activity is not just to cool off – it is primarily to reduce muscle soreness. Reduces Stress : It’s been found that showering in cold water increases a person’s willpower, tolerance to stress as well as disease.

: It’s been found that showering in cold water increases a person’s willpower, tolerance to stress as well as disease. Relieves Depression : Cold showers gives a shock to our nerve-endings which sends an incredible amount of electrical impulses to the brain. This creates an anti-depressive effect by triggering the serotonin neurotransmitter, which helps regulate mood balance.

: Cold showers gives a shock to our nerve-endings which sends an incredible amount of electrical impulses to the brain. This creates an anti-depressive effect by triggering the serotonin neurotransmitter, which helps regulate mood balance. Natural Sedative : Cold showers also helps us sleep better at night by relaxing the muscles and soothing the nerves.

: Cold showers also helps us sleep better at night by relaxing the muscles and soothing the nerves. Detoxification : Our lymphatic system is in charge of removing waste from cells. Cold water promotes the lymphatic movement and ensures that the largest amounts of waste are removed, keeping the body clean and healthy.

: Our lymphatic system is in charge of removing waste from cells. Cold water promotes the lymphatic movement and ensures that the largest amounts of waste are removed, keeping the body clean and healthy. Increases Sex Hormone Production: It has been proven that cold showers can give a good boost to testosterone levels in the body. It also increases sperm cell count!

So which is better?

As outlined above, both hot and cold showers are beneficial in different ways. However, dermatologists concede that hot showers can have a drying effect on the skin and strips the skin of essential natural oils. To avoid this, TheHealthSite suggests that hot water should be used for the body, and cold water for the head to protect the face and hair.

Tips for Showering

Hot or cold shower, moisturize immediately afterwards. Lotion traps moisturize inside the skin, keeping it hydrated.

Keep showers short – no more than 5-10 minutes – to avoid stripping your skin of its natural oils.

Mix it up: Start with a hot or lukewarm shower and gradually turn the temperature down to enjoy benefits of both water temperatures.

Don’t oversoap, as soap tends to dry out the skin.

Hot or Cold Shower?

So which do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section below and why 🙂

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