75 Science Based Facts About Cold Showers: It's Like Cocaine...

Don’t worry, I’m not here to encourage drug use!

Instead, I want to encourage you to try cold therapy if you haven’t already.

The amazing thing about immersing yourself in an ice bath, or for amateurs like me, spending 2-3 mins under cold water in the shower…

It gives you a dopamine increase (the motivation chemical) of approximately 200% over the next couple of hours.

Here’s the cocaine link.

That increase is the same dopamine increase a person gets when they do cocaine… but obviously without the horrendous side effects of doing a dangerous drug.

One of the reasons cocaine and other drugs are so dangerous is they increase dopamine but then crash it afterwards.

Ready for another amazing fact?

Cold immersion or a cold shower gives you that 200% increase in dopamine WITHOUT the crash afterwards.

Using this knowledge can help you get motivation when you’re feeling down.

For me, I’m right now looking at having a 3 minute cold shower first thing in the morning and then again after lunch to help me feel high energy naturally.

If you’re wrinkling your forehead and don’t believe any of this, go and read the book Dopamine Nation by Lembke, a psychiatrist from Stanford and take her word for it, not mine.

Then, the next time you’re feeling low energy or motivation, jump in a shower, start it warm and then turn it cold with a 3 minute timer and monitor how it affects you for the next few hours.

It’s the cool thing to do! ;)

What Is The Science Behind Cold Showers?

1. What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a type of therapy that uses water to treat medical conditions. It can be done in a variety of ways, including using water jets, immersing the body in water, or drinking water. Hydrotherapy has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions.

2. Signs of Low or Deficient Dopamine

If you are experiencing any of the following signs, you may have low or deficient dopamine:

- Feeling unmotivated or depressed

- Having problems with focus or concentration

- Feeling fatigued or sleepy all the time

- Having low energy

- Experiencing a decrease in sexual desire or function

- Suffering from chronic pain

3. How do our bodies react to coldness?

When our skin is exposed to cold temperatures, the body quickly responds in an attempt to keep us warm. This response is known as thermoregulation, and it involves the central nervous system and the endocrine system. Our bodies react to coldness in different ways, depending on how much heat we lose.

We can shiver to generate more warmth, or we can release stored energy from our muscles and liver in the form of heat. We can also activate our fight-or-flight response, which causes blood vessels near the skin to narrow so that less heat escapes.

4. Metabolism

Metabolism is the process by which our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. This energy is used to power all of our activities, from walking to breathing. The speed of our metabolism is determined by a variety of factors, including our age, genetics, and activity level.

There are two types of metabolism: basal metabolic rate and active metabolic rate. Basal metabolic rate is the number of calories our bodies need to function at rest. Active metabolic rate is the number of calories our bodies need to do everything else, including walking, working, and exercising.

The National Institutes of Health recommend that people trying to lose weight aim to reduce their active metabolic rate by 300-500 calories per day. This can be done by eating fewer calories and increasing physical activity.

5. Natural Ways to “Increase” Dopamine

There are a number of ways to increase dopamine levels naturally, including:

- Exercising regularly

- Eating a healthy diet

- Getting enough sleep

- Taking probiotics

- Taking omega-3 supplements

- Practicing meditation or mindfulness

Benefits of cold showers (and hot showers!)

6. Enhancing Your Mood

People have been using hydrotherapy for centuries to improve their mood. There are a number of ways that cold showers can help improve your mood, including:

- Boosting dopamine levels

- Reducing stress

- Improving circulation

- Helping you sleep better

- Reducing inflammation

7. Improved brain health

There is some evidence that cold showers can improve brain health. One study found that cold showers increased the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, which could lead to improved mood and cognitive function. Another study showed that cold showers improved cognitive function and memory in rats.

8. Improved cardiovascular health

There is some evidence that cold showers can improve cardiovascular health. One study found that cold showers increased the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, which could lead to improved mood and cognitive function. Another study showed that cold showers improved cognitive function and memory in rats.

9. Improved circulation

One of the benefits of cold showers is improved circulation. When you take a cold shower, the blood vessels near the skin contract, which helps keep the heat in. This can help improve circulation and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

10. Improved muscle and joint health

There is some evidence that cold showers can improve muscle and joint health. One study found that cold showers increased the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, which could lead to improved mood and cognitive function. Another study showed that cold showers improved cognitive function and memory in rats.

11. Improved sleep and sleep patterns

There is some evidence that cold showers can improve sleep and sleep patterns. One study found that cold showers increased the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, which could lead to improved mood and cognitive function. Another study showed that cold showers improved cognitive function and memory in rats.

12. Increased dopamine

Some believe that the cold water shocks the body and causes a surge of dopamine. Others believe that