Ice baths also referred to as cold baths or cryosteric therapy can be defined as the exposure to cold water. Cold exposure is something most people are aware has several health benefits which is good, but there could be other benefits you might not have an inkling of. Below, I am going to discuss the reasons why ice baths might be beneficial for you that will shock you.
1. Improved Circulation
Constricting of blood vessels: Whenever you immerse yourself into cold water your body will try to protect vital organs and therefore constrict blood vessels. This action causes blood to rush to the center of the body to be warmed.. When you get out from the ice bath, your body immediately responds by constricting the blood vessels to regulate the temperature of your skin and by dilating all the blood vessels to promote of efficient circulation of the blood throughout the body – thus improving overall cardiovascular health.
2. Pain Relief
It is also worth mentioning that ice bath can reduce pain. This is because the blood vessels constrict and this leads to decrease inflammation and swelling. This is especially true in cases where pain stems from an ongoing condition like arthritis, fibromyalgia or others of this nature.
3. Increased Energy
Surprisingly, ice baths are followed by a boost in energy levels. Exposing the body to cold can also help a person increase his/her metabolism and therefore ensures increased energy in the body all day.
4. Mental Health Boost
Crying is a natural occurrence that is good for the body and is linked to improved mental health such as depression and anxiety. Taking a bath in a cold water can actually trigger of production of hormones such as endorphins, thus help in reducing stress.
5. Enhanced Muscle Recovery
Ice baths assist in tackling muscle soreness that is as a result of rigorous exercises. The cold water assists in lowering down inflammation and muscle contraction that enable athletes and exercising persons to get better quickly and effectively.
6. Improved Sleep: Exposing oneself to cold can also improve sleep quality since many people seem to have better, restful sleep after an ice bath. Another health benefit of cold exposure is the liberation of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.
7. Better Immune System Function
Exposing cold increases the activity of white blood cells , which has a role in combating infections. This in turn can improve the overall health of the body and help prevent the onset of sickness and ailment.
8. Improved Skin Health
Cold exposure might positively regulate the blood flow of skin which helps to have a healthy skin which is luminous in nature. The action also facilitates blood flow leading to constriction and dilation to ensure it drains off toxin hence improving skin complexion and its smoothness.
9. Enhanced Brain Function
Cold exposure has been found to have a positive effect in managing cognition and research has pointed to the fact that it may even prevent cognitive decline, dementia included. This is because cold stimulation affects the release of BDNF – a growth factor that plays a critical role in learning and memory function.
10. Increased Mental Resilience
Cold work environment demands mental toughness and concentration due to the extreme weather condition of cold climate. The possibility of exposing oneself to cold environments like in ice bath helps in developing certain mental strength to handle stress and insults.
11. Improved Metabolism
Cold exposure may activate brown adipose tissue (BAT) or “brown fat,” which is well understood to increase metabolic rates. BAT is supposed to produce heat to warm up the body and anything that increases exposure to factors such as cold will cause activity of BAT to increase by making you burn more calories.
12. Better Endurance Performance
Ice baths are beneficial to athletes because they decrease inflammation, enhance circulation, as well as enhance recovery. This can lead to enhanced energy reserves and strength during most of the workouts.
All in all, ice baths can give you many benefits that you have never thought about before. Pain relief, improved circulation, better health of the brain, and the cognitive mind can benefit from taking ice baths just to name a few. But care has to be taken when trying out an ice bath and one has to approach it slowly to avoid say a heart attack or something as drastic as that!! At any case where you feel uneasy or painful while or after the ice bath, avoid further use of the product and seek medical advice from a professional.