Cold plunges and ice baths are everywhere online, touted as a miracle cure for everything from muscle soreness and depression to boosting immunity and metabolism. But how much of this is social media hype, and what does the evidence really show?
In this episode, we talk about the science behind cold water immersion. We'll explore its long history, unpack the biggest claims (improved recovery, better mood, stronger immune system, faster metabolism), and critically examine the actual research.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - The Claims
02:59 - The History
04:14 - Improved Recovery
05:56 - Bad For Hypertrophy and Strength
08:23 - Mental Health
12:36 - Immune System
15:23 - Metabolism
17:49 - Wim Hof Method
20:31 - Risks
23:18 - Who Should NOT Cold Plunge
24:57 - How To Do It Safely
26:43 - Evidence Summary
27:47 - My Takeaways
SELECTED REFERENCES:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9012715/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9518606/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11897523/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9896520/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36527593/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0317615
Disclaimer This podcast is for entertainment, education, and informational purposes only. The topics discussed should not solely be used to diagnose, treat , or prevent any condition. The information presented here was created with an evidence based approach, but you please keep in mind that science is always changing and at the time of listening to this there may some new data that makes this information incomplete or inaccurate. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or qualified health care provider for questions regarding any medical condition.
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