Come take the Plunge!

There are plenty of reasons to add cold water therapy to your daily routine, but a few benefits stand out:

1. Soothe Sore Muscles

Just like throwing an ice pack on a sprained wrist, cold plunges can help to reduce soreness in your muscles and sometimes decrease swelling and inflammation. Professional athletes and fitness buffs have been on this trend for a while, but don’t be intimidated — cold-water therapy is truly for everyone.

2. Support Your Immune System

Your immune system is one of the most critical aspects of your body’s health, and cold water immersion may help improve it. So while it’s probably not a great idea to hop in a cold tub the next time you get the sniffles, a regular routine of cold plunging may be able to help you fight off future illnesses.

3. Builds Resilience

Voluntarily dipping your body into freezing water challenges you both physically and mentally, pushing your body past its comfort zone. It takes fortitude to withstand cold temperatures, even for a short time, which is why ice baths build up your resiliency. Building up a routine of cold plunging can even help you develop better self-control and gain more energy.

4. Boosts Energy Levels

Sticking to a cold plunge routine can also boost your energy levels, thanks to a hormone and neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine in the brain helps to regulate focus, attention, and mood, and when we come into contact with cold water, there is a significant release of norepinephrine into our bodies. 

5. Boost Your Metabolism

The metabolic rate is the rate at which your body uses energy to burn calories. According to studies, cold exposure kicks this rate into high gear — anywhere from 8% to 80% higher — as your body works to keep itself warm.

6. Support Weight Loss

Your body gets the energy it needs to keep you warm in the cold from brown adipose tissue, or brown fat. Think of a wood-burning stove that’s used to warm up a room. The wood is the “brown fat,” and the fire is the “metabolism.” As your body shivers and burns brown fat, your body burns calories faster. This suggests that ice baths may help you shed pounds or help you maintain a healthy weight in addition to your regular health and wellness routines.

7. Improve Your Mood and Support Mental Health

If your mood needs a pick-me-up, an ice bath may do the trick. After that initial gasp from the shock of cold water, many people begin to feel invigorated and clear-headed. You can thank the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones, for that.

8. Strengthen Your Hair And Skin

Cold water therapy doesn’t only do you good on the inside, it does you good on the outside, too. More specifically, it can help strengthen your hair and skin. Your hair may benefit from ice baths because chilly water can flatten ruffled cuticles, leaving it shiny and help it retain moisture to prevent breakage.

9. Support Better Quality Sleep

There are several reasons why cold water immersion supports better sleep. As we mentioned above, ice bathing relieves stress and improves your mood, making your sleep more peaceful.

*source and read more at https://plunge.com/blogs/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-cold-therapy