Essentials: Supercharge Exercise Performance & Recovery with Cooling

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I discuss the critical role of temperature regulation in optimizing athletic and physical performance. I explain why overheating can hinder performance and endurance and how techniques like palmar cooling can help extend physical effort by aiding temperature regulation. I also highlight how specific body areas, such as the palms and face, are key targets for regulating temperature, allowing heat to dissipate efficiently. Lastly, I discuss how temperature can support training recovery while cautioning that extreme cold, such as ice baths immediately after training, can block adaptations. Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes—approximately 30 minutes—focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past Huberman Lab episodes. Essentials will be released every Thursday, and our full-length episodes will still be released every Monday. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Huberman Lab Essentials; Physical Performance & Skills, Temperature 00:03:03 Sponsor: AG1 00:04:07 Temperature Homeostasis, Vasoconstriction & Vasodilation 00:06:42 Elevated Heat & Performance Barrier 00:08:26 Regulating Temperature, Glabrous Skin, “AVAs” 00:12:20 Sponsor: Eight Sleep 00:13:49 Strength Training & Heat Effects, Tool: Palmar Cooling 00:17:21 Endurance, Temperature & Willpower 00:20:54 Tool: Resistance Training, Running, Palmar Cooling & Water Temperature 00:24:23 Sponsor: Function 00:26:09 Ice Bath & Blocking Training Adaptations; Tool: Glabrous Skin & Recovery 00:29:31 NSAIDs (Tylenol) & Training 00:31:56 Recap & Key Takeaways Disclaimer & Disclosures