I am one of those people that can literally spend three hours in a bathtub, especially if it's filled with *quite* hot water. If the water cools off after the first hour, I will turn the hot water on again just long enough to return to the feeling of that very warm embrace. If there are candles lit, so much the better.

*leaves and returns three hours later*

Ah, well a woman can dream.

Really though, here's the thing: While I swear that almost any aches, pains, and/or life stressors can be improved with taking an uber-warm bath, I'm learning more about the benefits of *gasp* cold showers. As horrifying as that may sound to me, and maybe you, the potential benefits are compelling.

Help with Weight Loss? OK, so I found this one hard to believe. However, some are convinced that cold showers help to promote "brown fat activity." Don't panic--this is the kind of fat you want, apparently--the kind that keeps you warm. They say brown fat may support the loss of "white fat." Yeah, that's the kind so many are trying to lose. Hmm. I'm a bit of a skeptic, but I'm open to experimenting. Learn more about that here and come to your own conclusion.

Waking you up and increasing circulation? Well, YEAH it's gonna wake you up! The mini-trauma you put your body through jumping out of the warm bed into the cold shower is likely to get the heart pumping, thus increasing circulation. ;)

Seriously, it may have a positive effect. The Healthline website claims that "increased circulation is one of the top reasons experts recommend cold showers. As cold water hits your body and external limbs, it causes your blood to circulate at faster rates to maintain ideal body temperature."

Muscles sore after that workout? This may help. The Inertia website says this is possible because "the cool water can act like an ice bath, and it can speed up muscle repair and recovery after a hard workout [...]. It can also ease delayed-onset muscle soreness."

Shinier hair and skin? Yes, please. This is partly because the cooler water is less drying and stripping. I can personally vouch for this one--it makes a difference. The older we get, male or female, caring for our hair and skin may come up on the radar a bit more often.

Other benefits could include sleeping more soundly and helping with depression symptoms. Read more about the benefits of both cold AND hot showers--here.

Yes, hot showers have their own list of benefits too, thankfully. Otherwise, I'd be so upset I'd have to go and take another three hour bath.

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