Correct showering in the heat: cold or warm?

Correct showering in the heat: cold or warm?
Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / 955169

If the thermometer rises to over 30 degrees, the longing for a cool shower is great. But is cold showering really recommended in heat?

Probably it has often been so far from you on hot days that you have longed for refreshment after a cold shower. Finally, it promises a quick cooling at high temperatures, similar to the jump into a refreshing lake. Unfortunately, it is a fallacy that a cold shower brings cooling.

Really showering in the heat: that’s the best way to

A cold shower quickly heats up the body.
A cold shower quickly heats up the body. (Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Publicdomainpictures)

Even if cold showering is good for the immune system and many are likely to be able to imagine nothing more tempting than sweaty with ice -cold water, this is not recommended on hot summer days. The refreshing effect does not last long, “because the body shouts up the temperature again,” explains sports scientist Ingo Froböse from the German Sport University Cologne.

A cold shower initially regulates the body temperature – then it is even easier to sweat, because the cold contract blood vessels and welding pores. This is a body -owned defense reaction to keep the warmth in the body. The body then tries to get back to its core temperature of 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. He uses a lot of energy. The result: you sweat more than before.

The cool shower only fulfilled its purpose for a short moment. In addition, cold showering can also go on the circulation in the heat because the quick cooling and the subsequent warming up mean stress for the organism.

You shouldn’t take a shower hot either. Not only is this not exactly pleasant in summer, your skin can also dry out. According to sports scientist Froböse, it is better to shower lukewarm and then put the water a little colder step by step. This prevents the counter reaction to the cold shower.

Correct showering in the heat: that creates cooling

There are better tips for cooling than showering cold.
There are better tips for cooling than showering cold. (Photo: cc0 / pixabay / frozen_wand)

If you want to refresh yourself in high heat, a cold shower is not a good idea. Taking ice -cold drinks is also one of the frequent errors in heat and is rather not recommended. The following tips are better cooled at high temperatures:

  • Let cold water run over your wrists. This cools down gently without your body having to heat up again.
  • Lay on cold compresses.
  • Avoid movement in the midday heat and mostly stay in the shade.
  • Wear bright and light clothing. It prevents you from sweating quickly. Incidentally, this is just one of five tips against heat from southern Europe.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol on hot summer days. Alcohol deprives us of liquid and minerals. This makes the heat only more difficult for us.

In general, you can make a few mistakes when eating and drinking on hot days. You can find useful tips for the right summer menu here: Eat in the heat: 8 errors that you should avoid.

Read more on utopia.de:

  • Thirst quenchers: 5 sustainable and delicious drinks in heat
  • Showering during thunderstorms and 6 other storm myths questioned
  • Heating: recognize symptoms, provide first aid

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