Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 1 day ago
Regular cold showerers reported fewer sick days in Swiss study
In trials involving 719 adults in Switzerland, researchers examined cold showers over 12 weeks.
Participants were told to shower in the coldest water for two to five minutes, and 459 who did this at least 70% of the time were compared with the others.
Regular cold showerers reported 26% fewer illness days and 31% fewer days off work.
These were self-reported differences, and the analysis did not use a randomly chosen comparison group in two of the three trials.
Cold showers also had a small estimated reduction in carbon emissions, because heating water uses energy in homes.
The findings add to limited evidence on cold showers, and extra encouragement did little to help people stick with the habit.
A Swiss analysis of three trials involving 719 adults found that people who took cold showers at least 70% of the time reported fewer illness days and days off work.
Over 12 weeks, regular cold showerers reported 26% fewer illness days and 31% fewer days off work than the other participants.
The trials were conducted between late 2019 and mid-2024, and participants were asked to take cold showers for two to five minutes.
The analysis grouped participants by how often they took cold showers, rather than comparing groups assigned at random.
Researchers also examined whether people kept up the habit, but extra encouragement did little to help them continue.
- Who
- Researchers led by Lena Glaser at the University of Basel analyzed results from 719 adults.
- What
- Regular cold showerers reported 26% fewer illness days and 31% fewer days off work over 12 weeks.
- When
- The three trials ran between late 2019 and mid-2024.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- The study examined whether cold showers were linked to health and well-being, and whether people could maintain the habit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Glaser and colleagues ran three trials involving a total of 719 adults.
Participants were instructed to take cold showers for two to five minutes and complete monthly surveys.
Researchers compared reported illness and sick-leave days among participants who took cold showers at least 70% of the time and everyone else.
- Participants
- 719 adults
- Regular cold showerers
- 459 participants, or about three in five
- Cold shower frequency
- At least 70% of the time
- Shower duration
- Two to five minutes
- Reported illness days
- 26% fewer among regular cold showerers
- Reported days off work
- 31% fewer among regular cold showerers
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What people are saying
We need a more empathetic approach if we want people to change their behavior
Taking a cold shower isn’t exactly pleasant, but it’s a small change to make
After all, we shower anyway