2024-01-06 03:29:29
A common tradition to welcome the new year is to dive into a pool of very cold water. However, this practice is growing in popularity throughout the year and experts are looking into the presumed benefits of this trend.
On social media, Canadian celebrities like Justin Bieber and Drake can be seen diving into a bath of ice water and praising the benefits of it.
According to John Holash, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, people who take an ice bath come out feeling fantastic, while jumping into very cold water is a a real insult to his body, and the body perceives it as a threat.
A boost to mental health
This practice dates back thousands of years. John Holash cites the example of the ancient Greeks who used cold water therapies to cure depression.
It confirms that there is scientific evidence that jumping into cold water provides mental health benefits, at least in the short term.
Studies show that exposure to cold water triggers increases in norepinephrine and dopamine. These two hormones and neurotransmitters are associated with vigilance for the first, and with pleasure for the other.
Soaking in a bath of ice water increases blood circulation, which makes the heart pump [résultant] into a change in many hormones circulating in the body, describes John Holash.
Changes to a person’s hormonal profile following a dip in icy water tend to last for several hours. So they tend to be really very robust and make changes over the long term, says the specialist.
And the physical benefits?
Little scientific data supports the purported physical benefits of ice water baths, since it’s difficult to find consistent answers among large groups of people, given the many factors that change how the body responds, says John Holash .
However, they are very common because people who use ice water baths are in fairly good physical shape, which makes the theories around the practice seem true, he concludes.
However, John Holash suggests at least one possible benefit of regularly taking an ice water bath: that of stimulating the metabolism. Indeed, according to the researcher, this practice would increase the presence of brown adipose tissue in the body, which would help regulate temperature and burn calories.
Stephen Cheung, professor of Kinesiology at Brock University in Ontario, remains skeptical about the long-term physical benefits in sedentary people. For him, there is a lack of solid scientific evidence that demonstrates that these people can benefit from the same advantages as athletes.
Because the benefits for athletes are proven, recognizes Stephen Cheung. Thanks to the ice water bath, athletes can recover faster and inflammatory stress on the body decreases, he certifies.
Not for everybody
Both experts agree on the same point: ice water baths aren’t for everyone. Their physiological effects can put anyone at risk with heart problems, blood pressure or poor reactions to exposure to cold. Both specialists advise consulting your doctor before starting to dive into ice water baths.
With insights from Kevin Maimann and the CBC Podcast The Dose
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