A contrast shower is a simple and affordable way to strengthen the immune system. Research suggests that it increases the body's resistance to cold and improves the body's ability to thermoregulate - positively affecting cardiovascular health and hormonal levels.
What exactly are the health benefits of contrast showers - and does it help you lose weight? How to take it correctly - how often should you do it, at what time of day and what water is best to finish with? Contrast shower - pros and cons, contraindications and possible dangers.
What is a contrast shower
A contrast shower is a type of hardening of the body, which consists of alternately dousing the body with warm and cold water.
The procedure is very simple, but at the same time incredibly useful, especially if you know how to take it correctly. In the next paragraph we will tell you how a contrast shower affects the body.
Exact description
So that you understand exactly what this material is about, let there be a clear definition here. So, a contrast shower is a hygienic procedure, with dousing the body alternately with hot and cold water. This is not only an effective hardening method. But also a great method to wake up quickly without coffee. And also - strengthening the immune system and even stabilizing the emotional background. And a whole mountain of beneficial effects for the body.
What is the secret of the super effect? Hot water literally opens blood vessels, tissues and organs begin to actively receive nutrients, and the body begins to cleanse itself. Under the influence of cold water, blood is directed to the organs, trying to protect them from the cold.
Yes, not everyone immediately begins to enjoy it. At first, the main feeling is discomfort, fear or even panic! But then, as you get used to it, a person begins to enjoy the process itself. The pleasure can be made even more obvious if you know about the super benefits of this procedure.
The benefits of a contrast shower
In the book “The Phoenix Code. How to change your life in 3 months,” entrepreneur Sergei Borodin writes that a contrast shower is one of the useful habits that can change a person’s life for the better.
It’s hard to disagree, because a contrast shower improves not only our body, but also our thoughts. Let's move on to the main part and tell you why this procedure is so useful.
Strengthens immunity
To begin with, exposure to cold water increases the number of white blood cells as the body tries to warm up faster after cooling. White blood cells strengthen the immune system , thereby helping the body fight various infections.
also trains thermoregulation processes , that is, our body’s resistance to hypothermia and overheating increases. This means that a fan of this procedure is unlikely to get sick from hypothermia.
This is interesting!
Moreover, the fact that contrast douches help you lose weight has been proven by scientists. For example, in our body there is white fat and brown fat. But it is brown that protects our organs and is responsible for heat exchange. Since under the influence of cold water, brown fat increases heat production by as much as 15 times.
As a result, much more calories are burned, and with them, white, the most harmful fat.
This discovery was recently made by scientists at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School.
Contrast shower: harm and contraindications
Contrast showers, like other active water procedures, have a number of contraindications, so under certain circumstances they can be harmful to your health. Who should not take a contrast shower?
If you feel dizzy during the process, stop the procedure. You should avoid a contrast shower if you have recently been ill or have had surgery, as your immune system is still weakened.
It is not advisable to take a contrast shower during periods of exacerbation of any disease, as well as during menstruation and pregnancy. There are several diseases for which this water procedure is contraindicated:
- cardiovascular diseases;
- tumor diseases;
- cold;
- skin diseases;
- diseases of the hematopoietic system;
- hypertension.
If you suffer from any chronic illness, ask your doctor for advice on how such stress will affect your health.
In old age, it is better not to start hardening, because the possible harm is greater than the possible benefit. But you can always go in for sports, it helps you stay healthy at any age.
Amazing effect of water contrasts
You will definitely be surprised after reading the long list of beneficial properties of a contrast shower! The benefits are in the following points:
- the immune system is strengthened, the body is intensively hardened;
- its thermoregulation is trained, as a result - you will stop catching colds due to hypothermia;
- blood vessels are strengthened, so temperature contrast is recommended for moderate varicose veins;
- The nervous system also becomes stronger, and its owner becomes calmer and more stress-resistant;
- blood pressure levels are normalized;
- blood circulation (including capillary circulation) is activated, thanks to which organs and tissues begin to receive more useful substances;
- mood improves, blues and depression disappear;
- tendons and muscles are trained;
- metabolism accelerates, which is extremely important for losing weight;
- the symptoms of cellulite are minimized;
- the dermis gains tone and becomes much more elastic (this also applies to facial skin);
- the overall cardiovascular system is strengthened;
- testosterone levels increase in men, and fertility in women;
- and even reduced excessive sweating.
And a contrast shower is also a way to get away from your own weather dependence.
How to take a contrast shower correctly
The contrast shower must be used correctly, then it will have a 100% effect. The main requirements are consistency and gradualism.
- Reduce and increase the water temperature gradually: you don’t need to immediately go under very hot or cold water and make a big temperature contrast, let your body get used to it.
- Practice a contrast shower regularly, otherwise it is unlikely to be useful.
Never allow yourself to freeze under a contrast shower. After it you should experience: mild euphoria, a feeling of vivacity and activity.
First block of rules
- It is best to begin such hardening of the body in the warm season . This way you will reduce the risk of catching a cold and prepare your body for the cold season.
- Carry out the procedure in the morning. In the evening, a contrast shower can cause problems falling asleep. Some experts also recommend warming up the body with morning exercises before the procedure.
No need to pour your head! Even if you are completely healthy, such a shake can cause problems with blood pressure and lead to loss of consciousness.
Second block of rules
- Start with hot water and finish the contrast shower with cold water.
- The number of temperature changes should be from 3 to 5 times .
- The time you spend under hot water should be twice as long as the time you take a cold shower. For example, stand under a hot shower for 20-30 seconds, and under a cold shower for 10-15 seconds.
- The duration of a contrast shower should be 5-6 minutes (less for beginners).
- If you are just starting to harden, it is better to reduce the time you spend under hot and cold water to 5-10 seconds. Just as we already wrote, increase the temperature contrast gradually so that the body gets used to it.
How do you know if you have chosen the wrong temperature? After a contrast shower, your hands and feet should not freeze. If it turns out the other way around, then change both temperatures so that the result of the procedure is comfortable for you.
Third block of rules
- After a shower, rub your entire body with a hard terry towel until slightly red to increase blood circulation in the upper layers of the skin and remove dead skin cells.
- It is not recommended to go outside immediately after a contrast shower. There should be a gap of 30-60 minutes between the end of the procedure and going outside.
detailed instructions
- Warm yourself under hot water for about 2 minutes.
- Turn on the cold water quickly for 20 seconds.
- Turn on the hot water quickly for 40 seconds.
- Cold again for 20 seconds.
- Hot for 40 seconds.
- Finish the contrast shower under cold water for 20 seconds.
Over time, you can increase the duration of each phase.
How it will help
With VSD
A good therapeutic effect is observed in people with hypotension and VSD. In case of hypotension, alternating cold and warm water trains the blood vessels. They become more elastic and mobile, thereby blood pressure slowly but surely normalizes.
How to take it correctly for VSD: we advise you to start using the shower from your feet up, following the movement of lymph, from bottom to top, in order to speed up its work and help the blood vessels.
As you know, VSD has a neuropsychic theory of origin. Therefore, the effect of a contrast shower will have a distracting psychological effect on the body. The most important thing is not to try to immediately stand for 10 minutes under such a shower - start with 30 seconds, the main thing is that you don’t get nervous about this topic.
A huge number of people who were able to overcome the first unpleasant sensations from the shower say that after it the mood simply flies upward - the main thing is to correctly integrate it into your day so that there is no stress again.
We found a review from a person with a fairly strong VSD (there was a lump in the throat, intense chest pain, dizziness, a borderline state on the verge of hysteria), to whom a contrast shower was recommended by his personal doctor and for whom this procedure helped a lot:
When I heard from the doctor about this shower, I didn’t even know how to react to these words: this decision seemed too frivolous to me. I thought it would be about some strong drug or a referral to a specialized clinic, no less. And then there's the shower...
It was quite an attraction, let me tell you! It’s cruel, as they like to say now! Being doused with hot water was still “back and forth,” but when streams of cold water fell on the body, it was something! And little by little my usual downtrodden and painful state began to “lighten and become clearer.”
At first this was noticeable for some time after taking a contrast shower, then I noticed that my general condition became a little better. I showered twice a day and changed the water temperature three times. I got used to it very quickly, gradually I began to like it, then even some kind of addiction appeared.
I think this kind of addiction is not the worst, it can be allowed to develop without harm to health
