The latest research from some of the world’s leading longevity and health experts indicates that cold exposure is one of the best things you can do to extend not just your lifespan, but your healthspan.
While it’s true that many people are living longer, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia have led many people to suffer in the last years of their life. In order to slow down the process of aging and stay in optimal health, more and more people are experimenting with cold therapy.
Cold therapy is said to activate the body’s natural healing powers that can relieve the symptoms of many medical conditions and promote overall levels of health and well-being. When practiced regularly, cold water immersion has been shown to provide long-lasting changes to your body’s immune, lymphatic, circulatory and digestive systems that enhance the quality of life, per an article in 2mealday.com.
So, what exactly is cold therapy?
While cold therapy has been practiced for centuries across many different cultures, it has recently been popularized by Wim Hoff, AKA The Ice Man, who encourages daily cold showers and ice cold water immersion.
People who champion cold water immersion tout its ability to improve cardiovascular circulation, a critical component of overall health and well-being.
“With poor cardiovascular circulation, not only is the blood flow compromised, the heart becomes stressed. And this can ultimately lead to fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, muscle cramping, or even heart attack and stroke. With improved circulation, on the other hand, we can improve heart health, enhance mental performance, boost the immune system and the metabolism, and simply give ourselves more strength and energy to live our lives,” per 2mealday.com.
Many others also use cold therapy as a complement to high-intensity exercise. Because of its ability to reduce muscle inflammation, cold water immersion is great for those seeking to reduce muscle soreness, as cold water lowers the damaged muscle tissue’s temperate and constricts the blood vessels, reducing swelling and inflammation, while numbing nerve endings to relieve pain.
On an emotional level, cold water immersion may make you happier, too.
“A 2007 research study found that cold showers can help treat depression symptoms, and if used on a routine basis, may be more beneficial than prescription medications. This is because, cold water triggers a flood of mood-boosting neurotransmitters, which make you feel happy. A separate study that analyzed the effects of regular winter swimming on the mood of swimmers showed that after four months of routine cold water swimming, the subjects felt more energetic, active and spritely than the control group.”
Alongside a laundry list of physical benefits, cold exposure is a mental game that you will continue to get better at. By learning to breathe through discomfort and the stress that comes with it, you can increase your ability to manage your emotions in everyday life.
Let’s get outside and embrace the chill!