A (possibly unpleasant) shower habit could help prevent you from getting sick

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1. 1h ago

   Cold showers linked to fewer sick days in University of Basel study

   A University of Basel study found that participants who regularly took cold showers reported significantly fewer sick days, with one report citing a 31 percent reduction in sick leave. The research, highlighted across multiple media outlets including the New York Post and ScienceAlert, suggests the habit may strengthen immune response, though scientists note the mechanism remains unclear and results are preliminary.

   Why it matters

   The findings have generated interest among those seeking non-pharmaceutical approaches to illness prevention, particularly during seasonal cold outbreaks. While the evidence is observational and based on self-reported data, the convergence of reporting across outlets like the New York Post, IFLScience, and ZME Science indicates growing media and scientific attention to cold exposure as a potential wellness practice.

   What is confirmed

   • People who regularly took cold showers reported fewer sick days according to a University of Basel study
   • One report stated that cold showers cut sick leave by 31 percent
   • A 12-week experiment found volunteers who took cold showers experienced positive health outcomes
   • Scientists are not sure why people who regularly took cold showers reported fewer sick days

   Still unconfirmed

   • Cold showers improve mental clarity and save energy
   • Cold showers prevent catching colds by boosting immunity
   • Participants in a cold shower experiment wanted to continue the habit due to observed benefits

   What to watch next

   • Peer-reviewed publication of the University of Basel study with detailed methodology
   • Follow-up studies measuring immune biomarkers in cold shower participants
   • Long-term tracking of sick leave rates in populations adopting cold shower habits
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. nypost.com — New York Post – Breaking News, Top Headlines, Photos & Videos
   2. www.zmescience.com — A Roman Coffin at Westminster Abbey Held the Wrong Body for More Than 1,000 Years
   3. Euronews.com — Cold showers: A rewarding way to cut your emissions?
   4. ScienceAlert — People Started to Take Cold Showers in an Experiment, And a Strange Thing Happened
   5. New York Post — A (possibly unpleasant) shower habit could help prevent you from getting sick
   6. IFLScience — Volunteers Took Cold Showers For A 12-Week Experiment, And The Results Make Us Want To Give It A Try
   7. 헬스조선 — Cold Showers Cut Sick Leave by 31% and Improve Mental Clarity While Saving Energy, Study Finds
   8. VICE — Does Taking Cold Showers Really Prevent You From Getting Sick? Here's What the Science Says.
   9. nypost.com — A (unpleasant) shower habit could help prevent catching colds
   10. dnyuz.com — A (possibly unpleasant) shower habit could help prevent you ...
   11. article.wn.com — A (possibly unpleasant) shower habit could help prevent you ...
   12. www.zmescience.com — Cold Showers Were Linked to Fewer Sick Days. But Do They ...
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