Is cold water good for you?

The thought of dunking yourself into an ice bath may send a shiver down your back.

I remember my first plunge. It was a day spa in Berlin. After a dry sauna, we dunked into a small pool of chilly water. The adrenaline rush going from hot to cold was exhilarating. After the plunge, it hit me — a deep feeling of wellness. I was hooked.

The sensation you experience is similar to rebooting your body’s system.

Top tip: sit or recline in a chair to fully soak it in.

Once we start to understand first hand just how powerful (sun)light & temperature (cold & heat), movement & nutrients (the content & timing) are for modulating mental & physical health (including sleep & waking states), a whole new world of agency opens up. —Andrew D. Huberman P.H.D.

The popularity of cold water therapy has exploded in recent years. Celebrities and entrepreneurs like Harry Styles, Kendall Jenner, and Tony Robbins all start their day with contrast therapy.

What are the real benefits of cold water therapy?

Scientists say cold is a powerful form of stress on the body, and the response will be consistently strong. The sliding scale of benefits depends on the intensity, the water temperature, and the length of exposure.

Anecdotal evidence includes stress reduction, better sleep, stronger immunity, boosting energy, willpower, and focus.

A new study from the University of Warwick tested the Wim Hof Method, a lifestyle popularized by Dutch wellness influencer Hof. It found that cold therapy reduced inflammation in both healthy and unhealthy people.

In another study from the Netherlands, people finished a hot shower with a cold shower lasting between 30 and 90 seconds. The group who finished with a cold shower saw a 29% reduction in work absences due to sicknesses, with no change to their overall number of annual sick days.

What are the risks of cold water therapy?

But people need to know the risks of cold therapy, which are better documented than any possible benefits, including cardiac arrest, drowning, and hypothermia.

You should know that cold water therapy is not advised for a range of medical conditions; from asthma to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, or a family history of sudden cardiac death.

Therefore, more research and professional guidance could be needed. Cold water therapy could help with inflammation, metabolism, immunity, and mental health.

What are your thoughts on cold water therapy? Share in the comments below.

If you want to learn about cold water therapy

Here is the Wim Hof study I referenced.

A podcast I’m Listening To:

Using Deliberate Cold Exposure For Health and Performance

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