Taking a cold plunge has been around since Hippocrates.
Ask the Scandinavians who’ve been plunging into icy waters as a post-sauna prescription for rinsing off toxins and literally jump-starting blood flow.
I don’t know the science behind how it contributes to releasing endorphins, but I know from experience jumping into Lake Tahoe late in the fall, or tubing down the Upper Sacramento river in the spring, that a full dunk into cold water is elating and definitely clears the mind.
I’ve dipped into a wide spot in a very cold creek in the Shasta area on a dare and then went back for more when my muscles stopped aching.
There is nothing like a super cold plunge followed by hot sun. The combo is life-giving.
Dunking in ice water is good for boosting confidence as it feels like an act of pure courage and self will.
That said, I wanted to research the latest surge in cold plunging. With new waves of the next cool thing come marketing and research. Here’s what they’re saying:
- Taking a dip in the Northern California ocean, which runs about 52 degrees, can help stimulate collagen growth. It’s known that sun time thickens the skin as a result of building collagen and because it’s the skins way of adding protection. Add a dose of Vitamin D to your cold plunge and you’ve got a remedy that can’t be bottled.
- A study of 49 Finnish winter swimmers (that sounds so cold) reported a significant decrease in tension and fatigue and improvement in mood and memory. Swimmers who suffered from rheumatic diseases like arthritis and fibromyalgia reported pain relief. I know from alternating dips in the cold and hot tubs at Harbin that cold dips are other-worldly relaxing.
- There is also evidence that cold water swimmers have more resilient immune systems. 85 cold water swimmers from Germany contracted 40% fewer upper respiratory infections than a control group. Blood samples showed higher antioxidant protection, which may be why they dodge illness better. Other studies support this as conclusions show that cold dips cause the lymph system to expand and contract, which in turn triggers white blood cell growth to beef up.
- Cold plunge, especially combined with a hot plunge, helps stimulate the lymph system which clears waste, bacteria, and microbes from our systems. The lymph system does not have it’s own pump and relies on muscle contraction/expansion to help clear waste that can build up and leave you sick or feeling sluggish. A cold shower a couple times a week can help you out with clearing the gook.
- And the creme-de-la creme of cold plunge benefits? A recent study has shown that icy baths mitigate depression. One woman, who suffered from depression for 8 years, stopped taking antidepressants after swimming in cold water once a week. Yikes, I hate the cold but I definitely love a happy hour swim in Donner Lake in the summer when the temperatures range from 56 – 64 degrees. Combined with swimming in “living water”, which has a lot of minerals, it’s the best lotion I’ve ever had.
The benefits are amazing so what about the cons?
1) Plunging into frigid water can cause hypothermia, and in rare cases cardiac arrest, arrhythmia or respiratory distress especially in people with underlying health issues.
2) Apparently, when you first get started, the cold can cause uncontrollable hyperventilating as the lungs contract, which can be alarming. Breathing techniques like that from Wim Hof can be helpful with this. Supposedly, the shock wears off as you get more experienced. Consider a swim in the nearest lake, river, or creek to generate the cold plunge effect!
Plunge On and Be Well!
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