Revitalize Your Health with These Shower Techniques
After a long and exhausting day, nothing feels quite as rejuvenating as a warm shower. However, incorporating a few "small moves" during your shower can significantly enhance your relaxation and even remedy some minor health issues.
Three Essential Shower Techniques for Men’s Health
Here are three effective techniques to incorporate into your shower routine that can boost your overall health and well-being.
Refresh Your Face to Alleviate Fatigue
Many people experience a surge of energy after massaging their face when feeling tired. The skin on your face houses numerous expressive muscles and sensitive nerves. Warm water stimulates these nerves, and facial massage increases blood circulation while relaxing those facial muscles. For optimal results, gently massage your face at a rate of once per second, performing 3-5 repetitions for at least three minutes.
Be mindful of the water temperature: **40°C is the ideal** temperature for relieving fatigue. Since the normal body temperature is around 37°C, warm water at 40°C is closest to your internal temperature. Water that is too hot can lead to excess energy expenditure, making you feel uncomfortable rather than refreshed. Conversely, water that is too cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which is not ideal for fatigue relief.
Boost Your Digestion with Deep Breaths
If you're experiencing a lack of appetite, consider showering about 30 minutes before your meal. The warmth of the water can stimulate your stomach. Once warm, let the water run over your chest for five seconds, resting for a minute in between. Repeat this sequence five times. Spending around 20-30 minutes soaking while practicing abdominal breathing—inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth—can promote digestive health. Follow this with a slight temperature change by directing cooler water on your abdomen; this combination can enhance gastric secretions and improve appetite. For those with excessive stomach acid or ulcers, soaking for 3-4 minutes in warm water can help regulate acid secretion and manage these conditions.
Ease Constipation with a Stomach Massage
While in the shower, gently massage your stomach in a clockwise direction with your palm. Combine this with deep breathing, allowing your abdomen to rise and fall. Shining water on your stomach can also assist in alleviating chronic constipation and preventing hemorrhoids. If you deal with irritable bowel issues, alternate between a stream of 40°C warm water for three minutes, then follow with ten seconds of cooler water at 25°C, repeating this cycle five times. This method can stimulate colonic contractions, promoting healthier bowel movements.
The Secret of Showering Effectively
According to research by experts at Nagoya University in Japan, only when the body is adequately heated and some sweat is produced does showering effectively relieve fatigue. Showers are often time-efficient but primarily stimulate the skin's surface, failing to warm the internal organs.
Morning showers serve as an excellent way to awaken both body and mind, enabling you to engage fully in your daily tasks. Meanwhile, taking a warm bath about one to two hours before bedtime is highly beneficial for a restful night’s sleep.
Incorporating these techniques into your daily shower can transform the way you unwind and promote better health overall.