30 Seconds SummaryAre cold showers good for your health?
- A study in the Netherlands by Buijze et al. explored the health impact of ending showers with 30 to 90 seconds of cold water for a trial period of 90 days.
- Participants who took cold showers reported 29% less work absenteeism due to illness compared to a control group, although their actual illness days were not significantly fewer.
- There was no consistent pattern showing that longer cold shower durations led to fewer sick days, and the benefits of reduced sickness absence were minimal.
- There were no significant differences in work productivity or anxiety levels between the cold shower groups and the control group during the study period.
- Participants initially reported a slightly higher quality of life, but this effect was small and faded by the end of the 90 days.
- The methodology of the study raised concerns due to its reliance on self-reported online data and possible biases, including sampling and survivorship bias.
- The slight and inconsistent benefits observed in the study might be attributed to placebo effects, casting doubt on the significant health benefits of cold showers.
