The amazing health benefits of cold water therapy

Is soaking yourself in the cold good for your health?

Cold water therapy, or cold soaking, sounds like what it sounds like: Immerse yourself in cold water so your body temperature will drop

Examples of cold soaks include:

• cold shower or water bath

• Ice bath (soak in water at 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Cold pool or lake (for swimming)

• Take a walk outside in the cold

Let's take a look at the health benefits of cold therapy or exposing your body to the cold

Exposure to cold may help activate your immune system

Exposure to cold activates your immune system

Your immune system protects you from cold viruses and other infections

Why does this happen? Exposure to cold increases your resting metabolic rate and stimulates the release of catecholamines, compounds released by the nervous system that activate your immune system

Cold water therapy can help relieve stress and depression

Exposure to cold may help manage stress and depression

Stress is a natural response to any challenge

When you're stressed for a long time or have too many things going on at the same time, it's hard for your body to manage or recover from the effects

Does immersion in or exposure to cold water help with depression? One study found that taking cold showers twice a day reduced symptoms of depression

Post-workout pain can be relieved by exposure to cold temperatures

Cold Soaks May Reduce Post-Workout Soreness

Who likes post-workout muscle soreness? Unfortunately, it's a fact of life when you first start exercising or after an incredibly hard workout

Cold exposure may activate thermogenesis, increasing your resting metabolic rate, which may aid weight loss

Can cold therapy help with weight loss?

Cold increases your metabolism and activates thermogenesis, in which brown fat burns calories to produce heat
.
This is one of the reasons why cold showers are effective for weight loss
.
Also, spending time in cold temperatures will make you more active because you'll be moving around when you're trying to warm up
.

Some sources show that cold water therapy and cold compress therapy can promote calorie burning
.
But does this claim make sense? Research has shown that exposure to cold increases resting metabolic rate, which could theoretically aid weight loss
.
However, few studies have focused on this issue, and there are other factors to consider
.
For example, does the cold cause you to eat more and compensate for the calories you burn? This is an interesting area that needs more research
.

Another way a cold environment can help with weight loss is by improving insulin sensitivity
.
One study found that 10 days of cold exposure increased insulin sensitivity by 43 percent in people with diabetes
.
It also helps control blood sugar
.
In cold environments, cells are better at clearing glucose from the blood, which is good for your metabolic health
.

Taking a cold shower is a great way to introduce yourself to cold compress therapy
.

How to Start a Cold Soak

The best way to start a cold compress is to introduce yourself to a cold shower
.
If you're not used to taking cold showers, you need to build up your resistance
.
First, expose your body to cold water for 10 seconds, followed by as much warm water as possible
.
Gradually increase the amount of time you spend in the cold, over a few days or weeks, until you can last a minute under an icy stream
.
Soaking in cold water for at least a minute is most effective, so make that your minimum target time
.

After a cold therapy, gradually calm down
.
It's never a good idea to start with extreme temperatures when you're using a cold shower for the first time - this is especially true if you're trying an ice bath for the first time! Cool the water gradually as your tolerance increases
.
This will help prevent shock and injury
.

Cold soaking may sound like a strange idea, but it can have some great health benefits
.

bottom line

Cold water therapy and cold soaks may sound like counterintuitive advice, but it turns out that cold water soaks may have unexpected health benefits
.
If you've never tried cold water therapy or cold soaks, you might want to consider it
.
The benefits of doing so are numerous and the cost is low
.
So go ahead, get into the tub or shower and see what happens
.
Check with your healthcare provider first, though
.

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