is cold therapy right for you?

just an idea

Have you ever noticed a topic that won't quit presenting itself to you? When I find myself drawn to a subject over and over again because it keeps popping up, not because I'm seeking it out--I stop to take notice and see if it could be something that's for me. I first heard of cold therapy from Tony Robbins. He submerges himself in cold water every morning. A woman I follow on Instagram started getting in the ocean each morning regardless of the temperature. Another friend on Instagram gets in the cold ocean as part of her intense workout routine. Then late last year I went to a work event in Chicago where they also have a cold tank in their office gym, and it really got me thinking.. Should I start looking into this more?

Firstly, I understand that taking a cold shower or dip in a freezing tub of water sounds like actual torture to some of us. It might also sound like a challenge. Could you actually do it? Get in a freezing tub every day to become a bit healthier? There are several reasons why you may at least consider it. 

reasons to consider cold therapy

• We have never been more comfortable. In all of history and time, we have never had more opportunity to stay at a consistent temperature. It has made me soft! Reason number one to consider cold therapy for me is to toughen up. Especially as I age, I have noticed that becoming weaker is easy. Getting tougher takes a little bit of work. "Perpetual comfort leads to fragility. Some even say it leads to our bodies creating aches and pains. Regardless, I’m looking for resilience and maybe you are too." (Rudner, Brad source) 

• Cold submersion or therapy has some promising evidence¹ that it can aid with weight loss by helping your body to produce more of the "good" kind of fat --brown fat (the kind of fat that burns itself to help keep us warm), as opposed to white fat (the kind that sits on your middle and only gets used if you're starving)² 

•  Other reported benefits of cold therapy include balancing hormones, mood elevation, improved circulation, boosted immunity, reduced inflammation, and improved hair and skin. "(More here and here)

Not just cold water

While researching for this article I came across Wim Hoff who is apparently the guru for cold therapy. Reading the science behind his crazy, cold antics (covering himself in ice cubes for 112 minutes, climbing part of Everest with just shorts on, etc..) convinced me that trying cold therapy could actually be worth a shot. His method includes a breathing technique, cold exposure, and mindset training that has been studied and shown to directly affect the immune response which was previously thought to be impossible. If you suffer from an autoimmune disease I want to encourage you to look into this method! Wim is a little bit woo-woo, but I think there's something to be learned from him. Take a look and see for yourself <3 

different types of cold therapy

There are tons of ways to get started with cold water therapy!, and it is A-Okay to ease into this process. Disclaimer: Cold therapy isn't for everyone, especially if you have chronic lower back pain, pre-existing heart conditions, and more. As always, be your own best advocate and take your health questions to your trusted medical professionals to find the answers you seek. 

• Start small. Just put your face in cold water. 
• According to this article, if you keep your extremities out of the water, it can make cold submersion easier. So keep your hands, feet, head, or all 3 out and see if that helps you ease into it. The same article reports that keeping your head out doesn't seem to affect the benefits at all. 
•  Cold therapy isn't just limited to submersion in water. You can also take walks in the cold air of fall and winter, and keep your heat very low in the wintertime. Get accustomed to being a little bit chilly all the time. 
•  Try different bodies of water. A pond, a lake, the ocean, your shower or tub, a swimming pool... Try it all! Be out in nature when you can, but use what you have access to.

challenge yourself

So what shall we do with this information? Let's put theory into practice! Although you can try it out at any time, it's particularly nice to give it a try in the middle of summer when you aren't already cold. Share your thoughts in the comments, and share this article with your friends! 

¹​Betz MJ, Enerbäck S. Targeting thermogenesis in brown fat and muscle to treat obesity and metabolic disease. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2018;14(2):77‐87. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2017.132
²Thuzar M, Ho KK. MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Brown adipose tissue in humans: regulation and metabolic significance. Eur J Endocrinol. 2016;175(1):R11‐R25. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-1217
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