Cold Showers And Testosterone – What Does Science Say?

Low testosterone has become a seemingly increasing issue in the present day. In most cases though, with growing health mindfulness, men choose to look for various natural remedies before going to the doctor for a serious treatment. It might take you by surprise but, many people believe that cold showers can have a positive influence on testosterone.

Well, there is no doubt that taking a cold shower can benefit the body in several ways, however, its association with testosterone – seems more of a myth.

To know more about the effect of cold showers on the body and, whether or not, it actually has any impact on testosterone, We went through all possible research data on this subject that are currently available. Here’s what the findings say.

Cold Showers And Testosterone- What Does Science Say?

One of the important things to understand here before we get to the actual studies is that temperature plays a crucial role in the functioning of the testicles.

The main source of testosterone production is the testicles held by the scrotum that are placed outside the body. It helps to maintain the required temperature for sperm genesis. This is probably one of the reasons why many people think cold showers have the potential to boost testosterone levels. Sadly, there is little research showing any effect on testosterone production.

One of the early studies found that maintaining the right temperature favors DNA, and RNA production, as well as protein synthesis, which then leads to optimum sperm production. In the later years, researchers conducted an experiment on animal subjects and found that exposing testicles to higher temperatures than what’s required results in a decline in sperm production by testosterone as a result of testicular shrinkage.

Investigating further on this subject, We found another study on ‘The effect of physical exercise and cold stimulation on testosterone levels’. The findings confirm that while physical exercises did trigger testosterone production by influencing the Leutinizing Hormone (LH), cold water reduced testosterone levels by 10%.

Yet another data from a 2013 study also found that sperm quality and concentration rose in winter when the outside temperature was cold while there was a decline with higher external temperature.

Finally, the only clinical trial that showed a positive response to testosterone was a 2017 study on the effects of single whole-body cryotherapy on various physiological parameters of sprint-trained athletes. A rise in testosterone for 24 hours was noted when the subjects were exposed to cold treatment within 20 minutes of the sprint-training session. However, what’s worth noting here is, the effect was the result of extreme cold temperature and not cold water exposure. Therefore, the impact of cold showers on testosterone again remains inconclusive in this study.

Cold Shower And Other Health Gains

Not being able to establish the connection between cold showers and testosterone production is one thing. But, there are several other benefits of taking a soak in cold water:

Improves Circulation And Post-Workout Recovery

Taking a cold shower can help improve the blood circulation in the body by increasing the heartbeat. A raised health beat speeds up the blood flow in the body thus boosting the circulatory system. This is beneficial for relaxing muscle stiffness and reducing inflammation after an intense workout session leading to faster muscle recovery.

Better Metabolism

Studies have shown that exposing your body to cold temperatures (even through a shower) can kickstart your metabolism. Cold shower activates the brown fat in the body which is the healthy fat that helps in fat metabolism by triggering thermogenesis. So in case you are planning to lose weight, taking a cold shower twice a day can surely benefit you.

Boosted Mood

Low mood can have a serious impact on your lifestyle. Research shows that taking a shower with cold water can improve the response of your brain and nervous system and increase beta-endorphin and noradrenaline levels. This can be used as a potential treatment for depression.

Strengthens Immune System

Finally, our immune system can be strengthened by exposing to a cold shower. Cold water soaks can activate the sympathetic nervous system thus increasing the immune response.

Cold water isn’t going to do anything for your testosterone levels that exercise won’t do. Many other variables affect those levels, such as diet and lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking. A quick cold shower isn’t a testosterone-level hack.

Hot Shower Has Adverse Effects Anyway

Healthcare experts in most cases suggest taking a shower in hot water (very high temperature) can bring about several health issues. Not only is exposure to high temperatures harmful to hair and skin health, but it can affect blood circulation and even affect the reproductive health in both men and women. Hot showers are especially not recommended for pregnant women, people with high blood pressure, or those with chronic skin issues.

Conclusion

Currently, there isn’t much data surrounding the cold showers’ effect on increasing testosterone levels in any way. Most of the findings are directed toward a decline in testosterone levels when exposed to cold water, although, it does have various other health gains as listed above.

That said, low testosterone issues cannot really be resolved by improving or focusing on a single factor. Understanding the main cause behind the deficiency is extremely important to identify and pick the right treatment options. Therefore, we recommend that you consider seeing a doctor and do not forget to make exercise and a healthy diet a part of your regular routine to improve your health.