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What Is ‘Cortisol Face’? What You Need to Know About This TikTok Trend

The AHA! Team — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 05:29:38 +0000

Joe Boland via Dr. Axe – “Cortisol face” is a term that’s gaining traction in the wellness world, particularly taking off on the social media platform TikTok, especially as more people recognize the visible impacts of stress on physical appearance. It describes facial puffiness or bloating potentially linked to elevated levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress can be nearly unavoidable, understanding cortisol face can help identify if lifestyle changes are needed to maintain both mental and physical well-being. This article dives in to what cortisol face is, its causes, how it differs from moon face and tips to manage it. What is cortisol face? Cortisol face refers to facial swelling or puffiness that can occur when cortisol levels are elevated for extended periods. It’s not an official diagnosis, and what many people may think is cortisol face may actually be a different medical issue, such as Cushing’s syndrome. However, stress and skin health are most definitely linked, as research has shown over and over again. Cortisol plays an essential role in managing stress Cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, plays an essential role in managing stress, metabolism, inflammation and immune response. However, when stress becomes chronic, excess cortisol can cause a range of symptoms, including water retention and inflammation that can contribute to facial puffiness. People with cortisol face often notice swelling around the cheeks and jawline, and in severe cases, it can extend to the entire face. How common is it? Cortisol face isn’t necessarily common, but it may be more prevalent among individuals dealing with chronic stress, poor sleep or high workloads, all of which can elevate cortisol levels. High cortisol is also observed in individuals with specific medical conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, where the body overproduces cortisol. While not everyone with high cortisol will experience facial puffiness, those who are more prone to fluid retention or inflammation might be more likely to develop this symptom. Puffy skin and stress When stress becomes chronic, it triggers prolonged cortisol production. Elevated cortisol levels can affect the body in various ways, including: Fluid retention: Cortisol causes the body to retain sodium and excrete potassium, leading to water retention. Inflammation: Chronic cortisol production can exacerbate inflammation, affecting skin and blood vessels. Reduced collagen production: Cortisol can inhibit collagen synthesis, which may lead to less elastic skin and more noticeable swelling. As a result, chronic stress doesn’t just impact internal health — it can lead to visible signs of fatigue and stress on the skin. This link between stress and skin issues has been extensively studied, and puffy skin is one of the many external indicators that stress levels might be affecting physical health. Cortisol face vs. moon face While cortisol face and moon face may sound similar — and do share similar symptoms — they differ in underlying causes and characteristics. Cortisol face refers specifically to puffiness in the face due to elevated cortisol, typically related to stress. It can also be influenced by poor diet, lack of sleep or lifestyle factors. Moon face is condition where the face appears round and swollen, typically due to prolonged use of corticosteroids or conditions like Cushing’s syndrome. Moon face is a hallmark symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, where excessive cortisol leads to more dramatic facial swelling and roundness. While cortisol face can often be managed with lifestyle changes, moon face may require medical intervention if linked to hormonal disorders or medication side effects. Other causes Apart from elevated cortisol, other factors can contribute to facial puffiness, including: High-sodium diet: Excess sodium leads to water retention, especially around the face. Alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates the body, causing it to retain water and resulting in facial puffiness. Allergies: Allergic reactions, especially those affecting the sinuses, can lead to temporary facial swelling. Sleep deprivation: Poor sleep can exacerbate inflammation and fluid retention, leading to puffy skin. Menstrual cycle: Hormonal fluctuations can sometimes lead to fluid retention and facial swelling. Understanding the cause of puffiness is essential to managing and preventing it, especially if cortisol face seems to be part of a broader set of symptoms. How to get rid of cortisol face Reducing cortisol levels and adopting lifestyle habits to manage stress can help alleviate cortisol face. Here are some effective strategies: 1. Reduce stress Engage in mindfulness, meditation or yoga to reduce daily stress. Even small, daily stress management practices can help lower cortisol levels. 2. Optimize sleep Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Poor sleep is linked to higher cortisol levels, which can worsen facial puffiness. 3. Limit high-sodium foods Reducing salt in the diet can minimize water retention. 4. Stay hydrated Drinking water throughout the day can help the body release retained fluid, reducing puffiness. 5. Exercise regularly Physical activity can help lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. 6. Anti-inflammatory diet Foods high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins can help reduce inflammation and cortisol levels. Some people may also find relief through topical treatments, like cold compresses, facial rollers or certain anti-inflammatory skin care products, although these do not address the root cause of cortisol face. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can also help. Conclusion Cortisol face serves as a visible reminder of the connection between stress and physical health. While it can be distressing, understanding the signs and causes empowers you to manage stress and improve your overall well-being. Reducing cortisol levels through lifestyle adjustments, proper hydration, a balanced diet and regular sleep can go a long way in reducing puffiness and promoting healthier skin. Addressing cortisol face may also help prevent more serious health issues linked to chronic stress, making it beneficial to focus on these changes for both appearance and health. To read the original article click here.

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Elevated Stress Hormones Linked to Higher Risk of High Blood Pressure and Heart Events

AHA Publisher — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:00:32 +0000

American Heart Association (AHA) via Newswise – DALLAS, Sept. 13, 2021 — Adults with normal blood pressure and high levels of stress hormones were more likely to develop high blood pressure and experience cardiovascular events compared to those who had lower stress hormone levels, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. Studies have shown that cumulative exposure to daily stressors and exposure to traumatic stress can increase cardiovascular disease risk. A growing body of research refers to the mind-heart-body connection, which suggests a person’s mind can positively or negatively affect cardiovascular health, cardiovascular risk factors and risk for cardiovascular disease events, as well as cardiovascular prognosis over time. “The stress hormones norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and cortisol can increase with stress from life events, work, relationships, finances and more. And we confirmed that stress is a key factor contributing to the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events,” said study author Kosuke Inoue, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of social epidemiology at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan. Inoue also is affiliated with the department of epidemiology at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Previous research focused on the relationship between stress hormone levels and hypertension or cardiovascular events in patients with existing hypertension. However, studies looking at adults without hypertension were lacking,” Inoue said. “It is important to examine the impact of stress on adults in the general population because it provides new information about whether routine measurement of stress hormones needs to be considered to prevent hypertension and CVD events.” Study subjects were part of the MESA Stress 1 study, a substudy of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a large study of atherosclerosis risk factors among more than 6,000 men and women from six U.S. communities. As part of MESA exams 3 and 4 (conducted between July 2004 and October 2006), white, Black and Hispanic participants with normal blood pressure from the New York and Los Angeles sites were invited to participate in the substudy MESA Stress 1. In this substudy, researchers analyzed levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and cortisol – hormones that respond to stress levels. Hormone levels were measured in a 12-hour overnight urine test. The substudy included 412 adults ages 48 to 87 years. About half were female, 54% were Hispanic, 22% were Black and 24% were white. Participants were followed for three more visits (between September 2005 and June 2018) for development of hypertension and cardiovascular events such as chest pain, the need for an artery-opening procedure, or having a heart attack or stroke. Norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine are molecules known as catecholamines that maintain stability throughout the autonomic nervous system—the system that regulates involuntary body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released when one experiences stress and is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which modulates stress response. “Although all of these hormones are produced in the adrenal gland, they have different roles and mechanisms to influence the cardiovascular system, so it is important to study their relationship with hypertension and cardiovascular events, individually,” Inoue said. Their analysis of the relationship between stress hormones and development of atherosclerosis found: Over a median of 6.5-year follow-up period, every time the levels of the four stress hormones doubled was associated with a 21-31% increase in the risk of developing hypertension. During a median of 11.2-years of follow-up, there was a 90% increased risk of cardiovascular events with each doubling of cortisol levels. There was no association between cardiovascular events and catecholamines. “It is challenging to study psychosocial stress since it is personal, and its impact varies for each individual. In this research, we used a noninvasive measure — a single urine test — to determine whether such stress might help identify people in need of additional screening to prevent hypertension and possibly cardiovascular events,” Inoue said. “The next key research question is whether and in which populations increased testing of stress hormones could be helpful. Currently, these hormones are measured only when hypertension with an underlying cause or other related diseases are suspected. However, if additional screening could help prevent hypertension and cardiovascular events, we may want to measure these hormone levels more frequently.” A limitation of the study is that it did not include people who had hypertension at the study’s start, which would have resulted in a larger study population. Another limitation is that researchers measured stress hormones via a urine test only, and no other tests for stress hormone measurement were used. To read the original article click here.

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New Research Identifies Gene Targets of Stress Hormones in the Brain

AHA Publisher — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 07:00:07 +0000

University of Bristol via Newswise – Chronic stress is a well-known cause for mental health disorders. New research has moved a step forward in understanding how glucocorticoid hormones (‘stress hormones’) act upon the brain and what their function is. The findings could lead to more effective strategies in the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. The study, led by academics at the University of Bristol and published today [6 August] in Nature Communications, has discovered a link between corticosteroid receptors – the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) – and ciliary and neuroplasticity genes in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in stress coping and learning and memory. The aim of the research was to find out what genes MR and GR interact with across the entire hippocampus genome during normal circadian variation and after exposure to acute stress. The research team also wanted to discover whether any interaction would result in changes in the expression and functional properties of these genes. The study combined advanced next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics and pathway analysis technologies to enable a greater understanding into glucocorticoid hormone action, via MRs and GRs, on gene activity in the hippocampus. The researchers found a previously unknown link between the MR and cilia function. Cilia are small hair-like structures that protrude from cell bodies. Effective cilia function is vitally important for brain development and ongoing brain plasticity, but how their structure and function is regulated in neurons is largely unknown. The discovery of the novel role of MR in cilia structure and function in relation to neuronal development has increased knowledge of the role of these cell structures in the brain and could help resolve cilia-related (developmental) disorders in the future. The team also found that MR and GR interact with many genes which are involved in neuroplasticity processes, such as neuron-to-neuron communication and learning and memory processes. Some of these genes, however, have been linked to the development of mental health disorders like major depression, anxiety, PTSD as well as schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Consequently, glucocorticoid hormone dysfunction, as observed in chronic stress, could have a harmful effect on mental health through their action on these vulnerability genes, providing a potential new mechanism to explain the long-known involvement of glucocorticoids in the aetiology of mental health disorders. Although further research on the role glucocorticoid hormones play in the regulation of these genes is needed, the findings fill the gap between the long-known involvement of glucocorticoids in mental health disorders and the existence of vulnerability genes. Hans Reul, Professor of Neuroscience in Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS), said: “This research is a substantial step forward in our efforts to understand how these powerful glucocorticoid hormones act upon the brain and what their function is. “We hope that our findings will trigger new targeted research into the role these hormones play in the aetiology of severe mental disorders like depression, anxiety and PTSD.” Next steps for the research include studying how glucocorticoid hormone action via MR and GR on the hippocampus genome changes under chronic stress conditions and, thanks to a new BBSRC grant, glucocorticoid action via MR and GR upon the female brain genome. Very little is known about this research area in females as most studies on stress and glucocorticoid hormones have been conducted in males. To read the original article click here.

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Science-Backed Benefits of Forest Walking That Will Surprise You

AHA Publisher — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 07:00:04 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – There is strong scientific evidence coming out of Japan about the anticancer effects of shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. In fact, according to Dr. Qing Li – one of the world’s foremost experts on shinrin-yoku, forest walking may prevent chronic illnesses like cancer, reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones. Chronic stress slowly kills. Environmental toxins like car fumes and industrial wastes, processed foods, and EMF pollution increase our cortisol levels and the risk for disease. Bottom line, most people in modern society are stressed out and need to relax – much more. A Growing Body of Evidence Supports the Idea of Getting Out in Nature May Just Be What You Need There’s simply no debate – forest bathing provides a natural environment of grass, trees, and fresh air – which can literally bring you back to life. Thankfully, there is mounting scientific data to prove that being in contact with nature is good for us physically, emotionally, and mentally. Naturally, it is widely thought that leaving the noise and stress of everyday life and spending more time in nature is good for us. Researchers have now been putting this understanding to the test. Unfortunately, only until recently, the practice of walking in the woods was never really investigated using laboratory equipment. Medical Studies Prove Forest Walking Offers Multiple Health Benefits The studies which began in Japan sought to find the physiological impact of forest bathing. Dr. Li, an associate professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo and current president of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, has conducted experiments to test forest bathing on human health. The studies found favorable effects on mood, stress level, and immune function. The scientists in Japan back up the work done by Boris Tokin, a Russian researcher, who discovered trees and other plants actually release chemicals called phytoncides. This chemical protects plants from harmful pathogens and can offer significant health benefits to humans. How Does Forest Walking Reduce Cancer Risk? The profile of the Mood States test showed that forest bathing trips significantly increased vigor in test subjects – while decreasing anxiety, depression, and anger. This factor alone was shown to decrease the risk of stress-related diseases like heart disease and cancer. The studies on immune system function showed an increase in the activity of natural killer (NK) cells – a component of the immune system in charge of preventing cancer. Wouldn’t it be nice if every (conventionally-trained) oncologist talked to their patients about this? Here Is One of the Best Studies to Date In one particular study, subjects experienced a 3-day/2-night trip to three different Japanese forests. Prior to the forest visit, the same subjects participated in a city tourist visit – consisting of a 3-day/2-night trip to Nagoya city, which had very few trees. The class of hotel and the lifestyle of the subjects during the stays in the hotels were the same for the city and forest trips. The walking courses of both trips were 2.5 km. Interestingly, the city tourist visit did not increase participants’ natural killer cell activity or the expression of selected intracellular perforin (more about this in a moment). These findings showed that forest bathing trips did increase natural killer cell activity, the number of NK cells, and the levels of perforin. You may be wondering – what is perforin? It’s actually a protein, known for breaking into cells that have been taken over by a virus or turned into a cancerous cell and allowing toxic enzymes in. This process destroys the cell from within. But, without this protein, the immune system can’t destroy rogue cells. Breathing in This Unique Chemical Compound May Be Responsible for Anticancer Effect Dr. Li attributes the increase in NK activity partly to breathing in air containing phytoncide – an essential oil from the wood – like α-pinene and limonene, which are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds emitted from trees to protect them from rotting and insects. By the way, phytoncides are natural preservatives and fungicides, classified as antimicrobial volatile organic compounds, and can also be used as essential oils in aromatherapy. These phytoncides induce NK cell activity, which kills tumor cells by releasing anticancer proteins. In fact, it’s been shown that ‘forest bathers’ have increased this activity by 50%. So, it makes sense, living in heavily forested areas is associated with a decreased risk of early mortality and cancer. For example, researchers compiled data from several major cities in Japan and found that populations that lived in areas with more trees had a decreased rate of several different types of cancer. Forest Walking Offers Immediate POSITIVE Results Walking in a forest or park strengthens your white blood cells, lowers your heart rate, reduces blood pressure and decreases the stress hormone – cortisol. By breathing in the aroma of the plants – we are saturating our body with chemicals known for their ability to prevent infections, viruses, and cancer. So, remember, the next time you’re in the forest – hug a tree and take a deep breath, because it may just save your life. Sources for this article: NIH.gov ScienceDaily.com hphpcentral.com smh.com.au To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Tip of the Week: Cleaning Up the Home Can LOWER Your Stress Hormones, Which Is Great for the Immune System

AHA Publisher — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 08:00:40 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Curious about how to clean your home in the most effective way possible? And, more importantly, why you should do it? Keep reading for perhaps a surprising reason linked to your immune system. While there are more ways than one to get the job done, the important takeaway is to actually do it. It turns out that the cleanliness of your living space could have a much greater effect on your physical and mental health than you may realize. Research, including a 2013 study published in Psychological Science, reveals some incredible insights regarding the effect of a messy vs tidy home on a person’s decision-making, stress level, and mood. Health Tip of the Week: Clean Your Home to LOWER Your Stress Hormones The 2013 study, telling titled “Physical Order Produces Healthy Choices, Generosity, and Conventionality, Whereas Disorder Produces Creativity“, included three separate experiments on the link between the cleanliness and orderliness of a living space and a person’s decision making. While one of the experiments found that being in a messy space seemed to enhance creativity for some participants, being in an orderly room increased a person’s likelihood of donating money and choosing healthier snacks! Another study out of Indiana University revealed that people who report having clean homes also tend to report more physical activity than people who live in messier environments. One hypothesis is that cleaning and tidying a home is a decent source of physical activity. It could also be that people who are more likely to stay active are also more likely to remain organized in their houses. Either way, it’s an important correlation worth exploring if you’re looking for an effective, cost-efficient, and productive way to support your well-being. Yet another study from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin determined that the more cluttered or messy a home was, the more tired and depressed the homeowner felt. Importantly, people who lived in messy homes also had greater levels of cortisol, a major stress hormone associated with damaging health effects if it remains chronically elevated. Such findings were noted even after the researchers of this 2010 study controlled for confounding factors like neuroticism or marital satisfaction. And let’s not forget – keeping a tidy home can also reduce your exposure to many common allergens and irritants, especially if you use non-toxic household cleaning products. Again, this research isn’t necessarily able to say that the cleanliness of a person’s home directly causes these effects. But the correlation makes perfect intuitive sense. People who feel depressed, stressed, and moody often lack energy necessary to maintain a clean space – and a cluttered and unclean space can contribute to overwhelm, frustration, and lowered moods, including anxiety and depression. Look around your home and ask yourself: Does your external environment in anyway mirror or reflect your internal environment? Want to Keep a Tidier Home? Here Are 5 Housecleaning Tips From Professionals You don’t have to wait for spring cleaning or even the New Year to begin a new housekeeping habit. Here are five simple strategies to keep in mind: Don’t try to do it all at once. Tackle the basics with frequency before worrying about other smaller, less-trafficked areas. Just be sure to do the more important tasks – e.g., cleaning the bathtub or shower – at least once every other week. Clean when it’s bright outside! It’ll help you see clearly all the dirt and grime. Store your cleaning tools (including rags, rubber gloves, and extra paper towels) near areas where you need to use them. It’ll save you the hassle of walking all around the house just to gather your supplies. Vacuum and clean the floors last to make sure you catch any debris or allergens that fall to the ground as you clean higher areas in your home. Play music or your favorite podcast. Bottom line: Don’t make it stressful (enjoy the process) and know that a cleaner home will produce positive results in your life. And, of course, get started today. Sources for this article include: Sagepub.com, IU.edu, Psychologytoday.com,Today.com,NIH.gov, Cleaninginstitute.org, Providence.org To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Neuronal Connections That Trigger Insomnia Tied to Stress-Induced Changes in the Immune System

AHA Publisher — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 07:00:44 +0000

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory via News-Medical Net – Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and Stanford University have pinpointed the circuit in the brain that is responsible for sleepless nights in times of stress–and it turns out that circuit does more than make you toss and turn. Their study, done in mice, ties the same neuronal connections that trigger insomnia to stress-induced changes in the immune system, which weaken the body’s defenses against a host of threats. The study, reported September 9, 2020, in the journal Science Advances, connects and explains two familiar problems, says CSHL Assistant Professor Jeremy Borniger. “This sort of stress-induced insomnia is well known among anybody that’s tried to get to sleep with a looming deadline or something the next day. And in the clinical world, it’s been known for a long time that chronically stressed patients typically do worse on a variety of different treatments and across a variety of different diseases.” (Jeremy Borniger, Assistant Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) Like many aspects of the body’s stress response, these effects are thought to be driven by the stress hormone cortisol. Working in the Stanford lab of Luis de Lecea, where Borniger completed a postdoctoral fellowship prior to joining CSHL, the research team found a direct connection between stress-sensitive neurons in the brain that trigger cortisol’s release and nearby neurons that promote insomnia. In mice, they found that signals from the hormone-releasing brain cells have a strong effect on the insomnia-inducing neurons. Interfering with that connection enabled mice to sleep peacefully even after being exposed to a stressful situation, whereas artificial simulation of the stress-sensitive cells instantly roused slumbering animals. “It seems like it’s a pretty sensitive switch, in that even very weak stimulation of the circuit can drive insomnia,” says Borniger. The same connection, they found, also has a potent effect on the immune system. Stress significantly disrupts the abundance of certain immune cells in the blood, as well signaling pathways inside them, and the team was able to recreate these changes simply by stimulating the same neurons that link stress to insomnia. Understanding this circuitry opens the door to a deeper understanding of the consequences of stress, not just in healthy individuals but also in disease, Borniger says: “I’m really interested in how we can manipulate distinct circuits in the brain to control not just the immune system at baseline, but in disease states like inflammatory bowel disease or in cancer or in psoriasis–things that are associated with systemic inflammation.” “Because if we can understand and manipulate the immune system using the natural circuitry in the body rather than using a drug that hits certain targets within the system, I think that would be much more effective in the long run, because it just co-opts the natural circuits in the body.” To read the original article click here.

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The Surprising Benefits of Cold Showers

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 07:00:53 +0000

Lori Clarkson via NaturalHealth365 – A cold shower is often a first-world annoyance in western societies. Now, many are voluntarily turning their taps as cold as they can in the name of “wellness.” There are a few crazy fads out there, many with no-scientific backing, but cold water immersion isn’t one of them. Cold showers are proven to have a wealth of evidence-backed benefits. The Leading Research That Put Cold Showers on the Map in the Natural Health Community Nutrition, movement, and quality sleep are the pillars of health. How does the discomfort of an ice-cold shower fit into that? Cold water immersion has gained popularity because of the incredible research undertaken on “The Iceman.” Wim Hof (well-known as “The Iceman”) is the king of ice-baths, breathing techniques, climbing up mountains shirtless, and swimming under ice-sheets in the arctic. Now, he teaches other people how to build resiliency in both cold water and life circumstances. He claims that his method will increase immunity, reduce stress, increase your willpower, and lose weight. But how much of this is embedded in science? No doubt, some of the stuff he has done appears “crazy.” Scott Carney, an investigative journalist who debunks “gurus” similar Hof, attended one of Wim’s retreats in Poland. He turned from cynical reporter to raving fan. In fact, he ended up climbing Kilimanjaro with Hof, wearing just a bathing suit, within two days. A feat that would usually kill you from hypoxia. The Benefits of Cold Water Immersion Backed by Science The science behind Hof is quite remarkable. He wanted to prove to the world that you can control your autonomic nervous system through breath and cold water immersion. The researchers injected Hof with endotoxin, dead bacterias designed to invoke a flu-like immune response. Medical experts were expecting Hof to experience fever, chills, and headaches. He experienced none of these flu-like symptoms. Could he be superhuman, or can anyone control their immune system? Conventional methods are not working. So, researchers are now looking at natural health methods for chronic diseases. One of the natural health methods being studied is cold-water immersion. In a clinical trial where participants had 2 to 3 cold showers for 5 minutes each session, there was an increase in endorphin levels. In America, depression affects at least 10% of the population (reported, but there are likely many more). It’s clear that antidepressants aren’t working for everyone, we need to make it clear to more people that these natural remedies will help. Are you feeling sluggish in the morning? It’s no surprise that a cold shower will wake you up quickly. Your stress hormone, cortisol, should start kicking in as the sun rises and wake you up. If you’re a slow-starter, get your hormones working for you faster. A cold shower will increase your alertness, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. It’ll also increase your immunity. In a study of over 3,000 people, cold showers of 30-90 seconds resulted in a 29% reduction in sick days. Athletes have been utilizing the benefits of cold exposure for years. Ice baths reduce pain and recovery time for active people. Wim Hof’s results are inspirational, but you don’t need to take it to the extreme to gain the benefits that the cold will provide. Just five minutes in a cold shower a few times per week will reduce depression, increase focus, and increase your immunity. And it doesn’t take any more time in your busy schedule to get started. How to Get Started for Those Who Like it Hot Most of us aren’t committed to spending hours in the snow barefoot. It can be dangerous and downright crazy for beginners. Luckily most of the research undertaken proves that all you need is a few five minute cold showers per week to reap these benefits. Five minutes is a long time in the cold shower if you’re new to this. Here’s the best way to get started for beginners. Ease into it. Jumping straight into a cold shower is a shock to your system. Start on a lukewarm temperature, then slowly get colder. Don’t put your head under the water for too long. If you’ve sipped on your green smoothie too quickly, you will have experienced brain freeze. Cold showers can be a shock to your brain also. In fact, losing consciousness in the shower can have fatal consequences. Duck your head under the water occasionally at a rate that is achievable for you. And, do not forget to breathe. Most people hold their breath when engaging in a challenging activity. Conscious breathing will give you more oxygen, which your cells need to function. That’s why your personal trainer instructs you to exhale on the concentric phase of your exercises. That same is true for your cold shower. When you breathe into it, you’ll energize your body, and the cold will become easier to manage. The surprising benefits of cold showers are undeniable. We are almost always in our “comfort zones,” which is not always contributing to a healthier and happier community. Enjoy the undeniable benefits of cold water immersion by stepping into the short-term discomfort of a cold shower today. Sources for this article include: Sciencedaily.com, Wimhofmethod.com, Sciencedirect.com, Medicalnewstoday.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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