TV doctor's shower trick could make you sick less often this winter
Making one change to the way you shower this winter could help you fight off illnesses this winter, according to TV doctor and health guru Michael Mosley.
Doctor Mosley is known for popularising the 5:2 diet and creating the Fast 800 diet, but he's now shared his wisdom on another area of our health - our immune system. According to the health expert, making one simple swap could improve our well-being, although it might not sound too appealing, as you'll need to take a cold shower.
Amid all the wet and cold weather we've been having, there's nothing better than coming home and jumping into a warm shower. But Doctor Mosley has claimed "hot-cold cycling" could be the key to getting through the winter without catching a cold. The practice involves starting your shower with water that is a little warmer than body temperature and then switching to a colder temperature.
Cycling between hot and cold water in the shower could be good for your health (stock photo) (Getty Images/Image Source)Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 podcast, Cold Therapy, the health guru said: "The cold is something we, at times, can work with and harness in ways that can help our health and wellbeing."
Doctor Mosley explained there has been a long history of combining the cold with the heat, and said many of us already do it when we visit saunas, steam rooms, and jacuzzis that often involve taking a cold shower before and after use. And you don't just have to take Doctor Mosley's word for it either, as there's science to back up his claims.
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A study from the Netherlands looked at more than 3,000 people split into two groups - those who took hot showers and those who alternated between hot and cold water. The research found that harnessing both of the temperatures offers some surprising benefits, including making participants less ill as they ended up taking "30% less sick leave" from work than those who only took hot showers.
Doctor Mosley explained: "Over the course of the following winter, those who did the hot-cold combo took nearly 30% less sick leave and most reported a boost in energy levels, so much so that nearly two-thirds of the participants carried on with the hot-cold showering after the completion of the study. And, for me, the really good news was that ending with a 30-second cold shower was just as effective as the full 90 seconds."
During the podcast, Doctor Mosley also spoke to Doctor Amir Pakravan, a consultant in sport, exercise and musculoskeletal medicine, who suggested the best way to try the hot-cold combination shower is to start with warm water and switch to something colder at the end. However, Doctor Pakravan said the water should not be "freezing", and should instead be "within a range that would be the same temperature as having a cold glass of water".
And Doctor Mosley even gave the trick a go himself and explained that while there are many ways to do it, he started by having a quick wash in warm water, then 30 to 40 seconds of cold water. He said: "I normally time myself by belting out a couple of verses of a song - and I find that also helps with the shock. If you want you can do a second hot-cold cycle on top of the first, although I've not seen any compelling evidence that this is particularly beneficial."
While alternating between hot and cold water could boost your health, those with cardiovascular issues should seek medical advice before trying the trick. Doctor Mosley added: "If you alternate heat with cold, you just might see an improvement in mood and energy and have fewer sick days. A hot shower followed by a cold one is a simple way you can bring the benefits of the cold into your life."
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