Ice baths are tools only the brave use to deliberately go out of their comfort zone and better themselves, plunging into the cold is more than self-improvement, it's a testament to how far you are willing to push the boundaries and become the ultimate version of yourself.
Are you willing to test your limits?
So, is having an ice bath truly good for you? Health experts and scientists have evidence that cold water immersion, like a full bath or just a cold shower gives your body a neurological shock which increases noradrenaline levels, the body’s energy cell count, and the immune response. You improve your mood, your energy, and even your resistance to illnesses and health diseases!
Here is a list of all the benefits of cold exposure, which we will go into more detail:
But how exactly can ice baths provide these benefits?
Yes they do, it’s not a gimmick, and here is how…
When you expose your body to very cold temperatures or in this case an ice bath, it needs to keep you warm, otherwise your organs will fail and you will eventually pass out and die. So to prevent this your body starts to shiver, to produce heat.
Heat production requires calories, which are burned to make heat, to warm you up… This is a literal workout for your metabolism, it’s working in overdrive, but you are not consuming food, it's just burning the calories you already have in your body fat.
Cold water therapy ice baths shock the body which sends electrical impulses to your brain. They jolt your system to increase alertness, clarity, and energy levels. You start to produce noradrenaline, the main ingredient in antidepressant medication and endorphins, which are sometimes called happiness hormones. This is seriously addictive, but it's not a drug, on the contrary just 20 seconds of cold exposure in temperatures below 4 degrees C* can help you achieve a state of bliss and focus like you never experienced before!
Hopping into an ice bath gives your body an intense shock for the first few seconds. While it may sound unpleasant, this is great for your body. Those seconds of pure shock get your circulatory system going, it fights like never before to keep your vital organs warm by increasing blood flow and constricting circulation near your skin.
It is normal for your muscles to start aching and feeling sore after a tough workout, it's the process in which your tissues are damaged and then repaired to become stronger a few days later. Although this process is necessary for muscle growth, it can be sped up drastically. While you are relaxing in the ice bath, the cold water tightens your blood vessels slowing down blood flow, this alleviates the pain allowing you to exercise sooner.
Taking an ice bath is a great way to combat anxiety. When you're anxious your body's blood pressure and heart rate are typically much higher than usual, ice water therapy reduces your blood pressure making you calmer.
Depression is a huge mental illness, as mentioned before shocking your body with cold water therapy, stimulates neurological pathways which fight depression by releasing noradrenaline, a natural antidepressant, and endorphins the ‘’happy’’ hormones.
Feeling tired is a nightmare, you have all these responsibilities to take care of but feel like they are way more challenging to complete than usual. Scientists have found a way to aid your sleep without prescriptions or other drugs, soaking in an ice bath in temperatures below 4 degrees C* for 3-5 minutes a few times every week aids your central nervous system, thus improving your night's sleep.
Although cold water immersion is the perfect way to relax after a long day, spending too much time inside an ice bath can lead to hypothermia or frostbite. Your body cannot handle the cold for too long, so it is recommended that you only spend a maximum of 15 minutes submerged in the cold water each time.
If you have low blood pressure you must check with your doctor before purchasing an ice bath, cold water constricts your blood vessels reducing blood flow in the body. Having low blood pressure or a preexisting cardiovascular disease puts you at a massive risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
While cold water therapy has its benefits, they do not come without a cost. Plunging into freezing water each week is a demanding task nowhere near as easy as a cold shower. You must be sure that you can tackle this mountain before taking on the challenge.
The more ice baths you have, the less beneficial it is, as your body slowly gets used to the shock each time. It is recommended beginners take one ice bath every week then increase it to 2-3 times per week. However, if your muscles are feeling sore or you are under the weather, it doesn't hurt to jump in more often than usual.
If the temperature of the water is too cold it can damage your nerves, that is why the recommended temperature to begin with is anywhere between 10-12° Celsius. A simple thermometer can be used to determine the ideal temperature.
Although this isn't scientifically proven, discipline is learned by doing things you are uncomfortable with just because you have to. After constantly getting into cold water even though nobody is forcing you to, your mind learns that some things just have to be done.
No! Buying and pouring bags of ice every time you want to relax is a hassle, so the iCedTub team has developed a cooler that can bring the temperature of the water down to the desired temperature with ease.
While ice baths are great for both your body and mind with plenty of benefits, you must be wary of the risks that come with them. However, if the risks do not apply to you it is worth picking up your very own, it will push you to your limits and in the process turn you into the best possible version of yourself.
0 comments
