Michael Mosley's surprising 'immune boosting' tip he recommends doing this autumn

dailyrecord.co.uk:

With the weather getting chillier, ending or starting the day with a hot shower is particularly comforting.But one health expert has explained the benefits of braving a cold shower - and it may surprise you.

Michael Mosley is known for promoting sustainable weight loss, but he also knows a thing or two about overall health.The former doctor and Just One Thing author confirmed that we should be taking cooler showers, no matter the time of year.

According to Mr Mosley, the lower water temperature can boost heart health and strengthen the immune system.With flu season on the way, it's important to keep your immunity strong to kill invasive germs. "There really is something to it," Mosley said on the Just One Thing podcast.Referring to the rising popularity of cold water swimming, he explained that there is growing evidence that the sport can "boost your mood, lower stress, improve your cardiovascular health and strengthen your immune system".The Mirror reports that if you don't live near the sea or a river, he said a cold shower could do you just as good.

He explained that scientists are in the very early stages of discovering the health benefits of cold water on the immune system, but one study found that having 30-second cold showers every morning for 60 days could decrease the number of sick days by 30 per cent.There's mounting evidence of the benefits of cold water, for example cold water swimmers, seem to have fewer upper respiratory tract infections - which scientists believe is due to the cold water rather than the swimming.While cold water triggers the body's stress response, more research is showing that a short burst of stress at the right dose is good for you - which cold water can provide you with.