Can Taking an Ice Bath Slow Down Aging?
Cold water therapy is one of the most recent approaches to increasing lifespan and improving health. But is there any scientific proof that an ice bath or a freezing shower can make you live a longer, healthier life?
People have been looking for various ways to prolong their health span and improve longevity for centuries. From alchemists who tried to invent the elixir of youth to modern nutritionists that advertise intermittent fasting — there have been countless efforts.
In this article, we will try to figure out if there are any longevity perks to ice baths and cold showers.
Cold Water Therapy: Why Is It Healthy?
The first reason is that the cold has always been a companion of mankind. In ancient times, people lived in unheated dwellings, warmed themselves near a fire, and adapted to extreme temperatures. This led to the hardening and natural rejuvenation of cells and kept the body healthy for longer. Today, a typical person leads a sedentary lifestyle, spending most of their time in houses with greenhouse conditions. Our bodies have forgotten what it’s like to adapt to cold temperatures and activate a proper immune response.
The second reason a cold shower might do us some good is that a small amount of pain/coldness/stress is actually good for our bodies. When experiencing stress, the human body produces adrenaline. This hormone speeds up the heartbeat and directs more oxygen and blood to important muscles.
So, can cold water therapy be the sought-after answer to our health issues that’s been right in front of us.
Alleged Benefits of Icy Water
Throughout life, our body destroys and restores itself at the cellular level. Regular exposure to cold temperatures facilitates this process: short freezing showers or ice baths stimulate your cells’ ability to self-repair and cleanse.
Cold showers also directly increase metabolism and blood circulation. Under the influence of cold temperatures, the body begins to use additional energy for heating. Accordingly, more calories are burned, which leads to weight loss.
Cold shock therapy has proven itself well in recovery therapy after injuries. It reduces inflammation, swelling, pain, injury, and muscle spasms. Cold exposure is also believed to help alleviate migraine symptoms.
In addition, cold water alleviates mental ailments, improves mood, and helps you to be more conscious in everyday life. Cold showers are associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for your fight-or-flight response. This triggers neurotransmitters in your brain that release endorphins, the happiness hormones.
Cold exposure may also improve the quality of your sleep. Ice water trains the nervous system. As an unfavorable factor, it triggers a reaction of tension followed by relaxation. By taking regular cold showers, you will notice that it has become much easier for you to relax and fall asleep in the evening, and your sleep will become deeper and better.
All these cold therapy benefits have a direct impact on longevity and health span.
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