Hot or cold shower– which is best after a workout?

A shower is a must after any physical work or workout as it cleans the body. First and foremost, a post-workout shower is essential regarding hygiene. The sweat that you produce while exercising might be a sign of a good session and a shower is a must. But if you are confused if you should take a hot or a cold shower after a workout, fitness expert Roshni Shah from V’s Fitness answers your question. If exercise is integral to healthy weight loss, so is a cold shower afterwards. Aching muscles the day after a hard exercising session, known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), can be prevented by having an ice-cold shower especially when you hold the showerhead directly over the muscles you’ve been working. To maintain your body temperature during a cold shower, your metabolism can increase by up to 550 percent of its resting level, meaning that you burn more calories just to stay warm. If an icy shower is too uncomfortable, even low levels of cold can increase the energy demands of your body and improve muscle tone. Exposure to cold water has also shown an increase in the body’s supply of a powerful antioxidant called glutathione which boosts the immune system suggests a study published in the Journal Biomedical Research International [1]. Also, do not commit these mistakes while taking a shower. If you are still feeling a little ‘tight’ in the morning, a hot shower can help to increase blood flow to the muscles allowing them to relax and ease the tension. However, be careful not to overheat if using a Sauna directly after your workout. Here are some of the health benefits of sauna or steam bath. Reference: [1] Sutkowy, P., Woźniak, A., Boraczyński, T., Mila-Kierzenkowska, C., & Boraczyński, M. (2015). Postexercise Impact of Ice-Cold Water Bath on the Oxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Healthy Men. BioMed Research International, 2015, 706141. http://doi.org/10.1155/2015/706141 Image source: Getty Images

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