Cold Showers vs NAC for immunity
Short answer: For immunity, users rate them about the same: 100% report improvement with Cold Showers (7 reports) and 97% with NAC (34 reports).
NAC has 387 meta-analyses and 767 randomized trials on PubMed; the other has not been graded.
Based on 103 reports about Cold Showers and 1,645 about NAC. Not medical advice.
| Cold Showers Lifestyle | NAC Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 40 | 49 |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mixed |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 83% | 55% |
| Reports | 103 | 1,645 |
| Research | Research pending | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | — | 387 / 767 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 75% (4) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | — | 90% (31) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 100% (6) | 82% (156) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 100% (10) | 74% (78) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 100% (4) | 71% (41) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 100% (6) | 90% (259) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 100% (13) | 65% (274) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | — | 79% (14) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | — | 75% (8) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | — | 86% (14) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | — | 86% (28) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | — | 72% (18) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | — | 29% (7) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | — | 88% (8) |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | — | 100% (3) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 67% (12) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | 100% (4) | 89% (18) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | 100% (7) | 97% (34) |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | — | 100% (7) |
| Common side effects | depression, discomfort | anhedonia, fatigue, stomach issues, depression |
| Typical dose reported | nightly and morning | as needed |
“I take a cold shower for as cold as I can get it every night before bed. I sleep like a baby.”
Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that dietetic approaches might be included as part of BD treatment. Also considering the high risk of metabolic disorders in individuals with BD, they should be encouraged to choose healthy dietary lifestyles, including daily intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains.
Nutr Neurosci, 2023 ↗“NAC has helped me stay calm and reduce anxiety as well as gives me loads of energy if I am sleep deprived.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate