Does a cold shower really burn calories?

No, the effect is real. Most of the calories you consume go to maintaining body temperature, not doing cardio. That's why warm blooded animals need to eat so much more than cold blooded ones.

But the effect is small when you're talking about cold water in a shower where you aren't completely immersed and aren't doing any physical exertion and where "cold" means 65 degrees Farenheit rather than 32 degrees. It's too few calories to be worth logging.

We had this discussion recently, and it got rather heated (scuse the pun...)

Yes, there is a little research into cold activating the brown fat cells, but no, it's not going to be a significant factor in weight loss.

Having said that, there are a number of other benefits to finishing your shower with a blast of cold - it's great to keep your hair shiny, it closes the pores, and it stops you being all hot and sweaty when you're trying to dry off (or maybe that's just me).

So, it's something that I now do. Though I don't expect it to use many calories.

I heard this on Dr Oz! lol

typical

Can I get a thread necromancy gif please?

A cold shower only burns considerable calories if it also involves hot sex.

Can I get a thread necromancy gif please?

A cold shower only burns considerable calories if it also involves hot sex.

Here you go:

You burn some calories, especially if you get cold enough to shiver and get goose bumps, both of which burn up lots of calories. But most people don't stay in a cold shower that long unless it's really hot outside, in which case your metabolism is lower than normal all the time you aren't in the shower.

Swimming tends to use up more. Even though the water may be warmer, the amount of heat loss is large with your entire body immersed.

You use a lot of calories working or exercising outdoors on a cool day. When you get warm enough that you have to take off a layer of clothing, you know you're burning extra calories.

Are you suggesting I swim in the shower?

If it did, we would live in our showers. Or in Antartica. Doncha think? :laugh:

It might not have much of an effect on your weight loss, but it will have an effect on your skin. Since your pores close in response to the cold to keep your body heat in, a cold shower immediately after a workout will trap sweat inside which can lead to breakouts. You're better off with a warm to lukewarm shower until you're clean and a blast of cold afterwards to seal everything up.

Disclaimer: Dunk yourself in a tub of ice at your own risk.

I've actually been researching this recently. Short answer is yes. How many calories depends on temperature and diet... if you are eating any substantial amount of carbs, the body prefers shivering-based thermogenesis for heat, and which will not generate a significant loss of body fat. Once the ability to generate heat via shivering is gone (due to glycogen depletion) and/or core temperature dropping to the point where the body needs to generate additional heat, themogenesis via mitochondrial uncoupling protein and via brown adipose tissue regulated breakdown of white adipose tissue is used to generate heat, which will produce substantial fat losses. Cold showers are unlikely to produce this effect, but ice baths definitely can, to the tune of >1000 calories per hour, potentially (e.g. a huge portion of Michael Phelps 12,000 calorie daily burn is due to thermogenesis induced by cold water, not due to cardiovascular expenditures), for an individual who is already well-adapted to cold). I haven't done the math, but drinking 2L of ice water is something like 60+ calories, so I can speculate that an hour in 50-degree water could yield a few thousands calories worth of fat burn.

Lol you'd probably burn a couple cals more from jumping up and down squealing and dancing around the cold-*kitten* spray pissing down your back. So in that way I can see where it JUST MIGHT work, but you'd prolly have to do that for the entire shower. Gross.

I do it sometimes in the Summertime when I have been at a July Marching practice to cool my core temperature down (after I have acclimated to a normal shower)... It probably burns about 10-20 extra calories but probably not enough to make real difference... It does for a short time raise the heart rate which would increase metabolism for a short time... After the "shock" is over though, it would go back to normal so it really would be negligible in my honest opinion. As others have alluded, there is not quick fix.. Get to the gym for sustained caloric burn and muscle development.

there is noway im about to take a cold one..are you on crack?

not worth it, come on. just take a walk.

Actually, for those of you who don't know, cold showers have good benefits.
Activates Brown Fat Cells
-When brown fat cells are activated, they increase your body temperature mainly around the neck, chest, shoulders, and lower back. They burn or "melt" the white fat cells they surround
Also:
Strengthens Immunity
Improves Blood Circulation
Regulates Body Temperature
Increase Metabolism
Alleviates Depression
Improves Lymphatic Movement
Deepens Breathing
Keeps Skin and Hair Healthy
Increases Energy and Wellbeing
Increases Hormone Production



How to Start

Gradually adjusting from hot to cold showers is recommended. For many, a drastic change in temperature would be too much a stress to their body. Push yourself to step outside your comfort zone, while at the same time listen to what your body can handle. A great way to implement cold showers into your daily routine is by turning the water to cold for the last 30 seconds to a minute of your shower. Give it a try and see what benefits you experience. Who knows, maybe the secret to the fountain of youth is hidden within cold showers.

For more information, visit http://wakeup-world.com/2012/04/11/ten-health-benefits-of-cold-showers/

Indeed!

What the hell is a brown fat cell and why do I want to stimulate it?


I like my showers at a "possible skin grafting needed" temperature, please. I would be all kinds of mad if I had to take a cold shower.