Many people have reported getting health benefits from taking a plunge in ice-cold water, saying that it can help boost one’s immune system, relax the muscles, and helps with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
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I have experienced taking cold showers, though not of my own volition. Although I don’t have any scientific proof of its benefits, I can say that it somehow helped me develop some kind of resistance to frigid temperatures. Then again, I spent many winters without proper heating, so that may have contributed to my increased tolerance to the cold.
Still, when researchers looked into the studies that claim health benefits from cold water plunges, what they found was that the most solid research involved athletes who were taking ice baths. Those studies suggest that ice baths could help with muscle repair by reducing the recovery time after a workout.
If you are thinking of trying out cold plunges or ice baths, then it would be best to consult a health professional first as it comes with risks. Apart from hypothermia and frostbite, the heart might experience cold shock response which can trigger arrhythmias or even heart attacks.
(Image credit: Mika Ruusunen/Unsplash)
Source: neatorama