Why I Love to Cold Plunge
Do You Even Cold Plunge?
I’ve been cold plunging for a while now, consistently 3-5 days a week for the past 3 years. I’ve taken the plunge in a cold river after taking a mineral bath from natural spring water then sweating out the toxins in a wood burning sauna to simply rinsing off under cold water in the shower.
About a year ago I bought my first Ice Pod (I love it!). I injured my lower back to the point of the worst sciatica I’ve ever experienced. I couldn’t work out, do yoga, I could barely sit or lay down, walking helped. My mental health started to suffer, I saw no end to the pain in my back or the constant shooting pain going down my leg every time I moved. I was becoming depressed and I needed to do something. Before I moved to South Carolina I used to sauna daily, following it with a cold, ice cold shower. While I do have a sauna, it is a dome sauna where you lay flat which wasn’t possible for me at the time.
So, I tried to start taking cold showers in the morning, but our water pipes are under the concrete patio where the hot summer sun beats down all day. I could never get the shower to a temperature even remotely close to cold. By this point I was committed so I started researching my options. Ice Pod had great reviews and was reasonably priced. I gifted it to myself for my birthday in early fall. I used it consistently through the spring. I was buying bags of ice, dumping in all the ice from the ice maker, and taking up a ton of space in my mom’s freezer with the ice block trays that came with my original Ice Pod.
This summer I went all in and bought the chiller that goes with the Ice Pod so that I could guarantee my cold plunges were consistently at the same temperature whenever I’m ready to take the plunge. I currently have the chiller set to 47 degrees. I’ve been using it 3-5 days a week for the past 2 months. I can feel the effects, especially if I don’t use it for a few days in a row, my body starts craving a plunge.
The Many Benefits
An ice bath usually ranges from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This cold temperature triggers changes in your body.
Enhanced Recovery: Ice baths help you recover faster after a tough workout. They reduce inflammation from muscle damage, which can lessen soreness. This means you'll be ready for your next workout sooner.
Reduce Inflammation: Cold therapy may help lower indicators linked to autoimmune diseases and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
Improved Immune System: Ice baths can boost the immune system by increasing white blood cells, which help fight infections and illnesses.
Improved Circulation: When our bodies are exposed to cold water our blood vessels tighten to keep warm blood around vital organs, slowing blood flow to other parts of our body. When we leave the ice bath, the blood vessels relax, allowing blood to flow faster. This boost in blood flow may improve circulation and deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
Increased Metabolism: Cold water has been shown to boost your metabolic rate, helping your body burn calories faster. This may lead to fat loss. It also raises adiponectin levels, a hormone that supports metabolism and fat breakdown.
Pain Relief: Ice baths can ease pain in muscles and joints. The cold water numbs nerve endings in your skin and tissues, offering short-term relief. They work similarly to an ice pack on an injury by numbing the area.
Improved Sleep: Taking an ice bath before bed may improve your sleep. Cold water lowers your body temperature, which helps you to fall asleep. Ice baths may also reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which can affect sleep.
Enhanced Mood: Taking an ice bath releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood boosters. This can lead to a feeling of happiness that lasts for hours, similar to the high from a good workout.
Reduces Stress & Anxiety: Ice baths can lower stress and anxiety by activating the parasympathetic nervous system in the body. The cold water triggers a response that slows the heart rate promoting a sense of calm.
Improved Mental Resilience: Taking an ice bath builds mental strength and resilience. It helps improve mental toughness, making it easier to handle stress and life’s challenges.
Increased Focus: An ice bath can boost alertness and focus by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the "fight or flight" response, enhancing awareness in stressful situations.
So, do you Ice Pod? I would love to hear your experience if you do!
