Volume 2. Is cold exposure the key to good health?
Improving your bodies overall health and vitality surely cant be as easy as getting into the cold water, right?
The myriad of benefits that cold exposure has to offer has been an increasingly popular topic in the health and wellness realm for some time now. While I had heard about how beneficial this practice can be, it was hard for me to commit to the cold without having some pretty good reasons. This is where the infamous Wim Hoff enters into the picture. If this name is not familiar to you yet, let me acquaint you. Wim Hoff is a pioneer in the world of cold exposure and is someone I would describe as a supernatural genius. Wim Hoff has dedicated his life to immersing himself in nature, working with the power of the breath and bearing extremely cold temperatures in order to unveil what our bodies are truly capable of. From healing what were once thought of as chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases and arthritis to alleviating feelings associated with depression and anxiety, the science illuminates that the cold really is worth the pinch!
So far, cold immersion has not only inspired me to take full control of my body and my health but has given me some insight into the vast capabilities of my body. It continues to reveal to me the power of my mind as well as highlighting the overwhelming sacredness of life. The discomfort of the cold requires you to absolutely surrender to the moment. It encourages you to abandon your internal narrative for a while and to deeply connect with your body. To bring this back down to earth for you, I’ve rounded up some of the key benefits of cold exposure that might get you jumping into the water sooner than you’d have thought!
1. Speed up your metabolism
Exposing the body to the cold has the ability to activate brown fat which is also known as adipose tissue. Brown fat in the body helps to maintain a warm temperature during cold conditions while helping to eliminate white fat which is the type body fat your body stores and accumulates. Furthermore, brown fat contains increased mitochondria than white fat. These mitochondria work to produce an increased amount of heat in the body which in turn enables more calories to be burned. This will assist in improving your overall energy, encourage weight loss and decrease high blood pressure.
2. Improve your lymphatic system
The lymphatic system plays an essential role in flushing out the cellular waste from your body. This ensures that no nasty toxins linger around long enough to cause disease while also playing a role in ensuring body fluids are maintained. Cold water works to boost this essential process by causing the lymph vessels to contract, triggering toxins to be move out of the body.
3. Improve your immune system
Cold exposure can trigger the immune system to release white blood cells, prompting them to attack and destroy any unwanted substance in the body.
4. Improved blood circulation
When you immerse your body in cold water, the blood in your body moves directly towards your vital organs. This helps your heart to pump efficiently, allowing for blood to move to all your vessels whilst ensuring every part of your body has adequate oxygen and nutrients.
5. Boost muscle recovery
A cold shower can help to recover damaged muscle by lowering the temperature of the damaged tissue and constricting the blood vessels. This constriction helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, supporting efficient recovery.
6. Improve your mood
A cold shower a day can improve the stimulation of the dopaminergic transmission in the brain. This mechanism in the body is responsible for triggering the release of neurotransmitters, which in turn can improve feelings of happiness.
7. Improved hair and skin
Cold water helps to reduce the size of your pores and tightens your skin. It helps the body to retain its essential oils to keep your skin hydrated, and your hair shiny. It aids in stimulating hair follicles which can lead to increased hair thickness and length.