The Benefits of Cold Plunging: Understanding What Happens to Your Body in Cold Water
Summary
Cold plunging has been gaining popularity lately with more people trying it out. Josh Cameron, a cold plunger, takes us through what happens in his body during a cold plunge. Once you step into cold water, your body undergoes a cold shock that activates the hyperventilation process. Initially, the body goes into “fight or flight” mode due to the stressor. Cold plunging has long-term benefits such as increasing metabolism, helping in muscle and fat storage, and mental balance.
Table of Contents
- What Happens During Cold Shock
- How Cold Plunging Affects the Body’s Cells
- The Long-Term Benefits of Cold Plunging
- Cold Plunging and Warmth: A Combination for Maximum Benefits
- The History of Cold Plunging
What Happens During Cold Shock
Entering cold water can be a shock to the body, as the cold can take your breath away. This is known as cold shock. The body reacts to cold shock by activating the hyperventilation process. This happens because the body is not yet adapted to cold water. The response to cold shock is the body’s “fight or flight” mode, which can be physically and mentally uncomfortable.
How Cold Plunging Affects the Body’s Cells
Cold plunging affects every cell in your body. Cold microstress might initially feel painful, but it has long-term benefits. Cold plunging increases metabolism, muscle and fat storage, and mental balance. The skin sends signals to the brain once the body starts to get cold, and the temperature regulating center increases noradrenaline in the body to activate the fight and flight system. An increase in noradrenaline leads to a 2.5-fold increase in brown fat, which helps keep the body warm. Activating brown fat can help prevent lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
The Long-Term Benefits of Cold Plunging
The longer time you stay in the water, the more heat you lose, which activates your muscles. The first muscles that start to shiver are located in your chest and legs. Activating muscle shivering is a sign that it is time to get out of the water. The more times you cold plunge, the more benefits your body gets. This includes a significant increase in dopamine, which gives you drive and motivation. Cold plunging also increases serotonin in the brain, which provides a sense of mental balance.
Cold Plunging and Warmth: A Combination for Maximum Benefits
While cold plunging has numerous benefits, combining it with warmth can yield more health advantages. By going into a sauna for 57 minutes, divided into two or three days, for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, you can also increase your metabolism and lower your cold temperature. This increased threshold helps stave off hypothermia, which is beneficial.
The History of Cold Plunging
Cold plunging is not a new practice, and its roots go back to ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians. They built seas, rivers, and thermal sources around them, using cold water for both hygiene and clinical purposes. The Greeks also had a long history of using cold and warm water to balance the fluids in the body. Hippocrates recognized the imbalances in the body, and how submerging the body in cold water can restore balance.
Conclusion
If you are new to cold plunging, start gradually to avoid any health risks. By combining cold plunging with warmth, you can enjoy multiple health benefits such as increased metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and improved glucose balance. Include cold plunging in your weekly routine and witness the long-term benefits that come with it.
