Chilling Out: The Top 8 Health Benefits of Cold Recovery

Tue Jul 26 2016 The cold presents a very unique opportunity for our sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight, freeze). Physiology is incredible, and an analogy that I heard a while ago pretty much sums up how we teach cold training. When we watch animals like a Lion hunting an antelope, we really have no way to see any differences physiologically with what's happening to either animal. Even though one is the hunter and one is being hunted. The difference between the lion and the antelope is that the lion wants to be there, the antelope does not. In the realm of cold training, its the same. The cold will always be cold. Its your choice if you want to experience what it has to offer or not. Be the lion. The Core Benefits of Cold Exposure Training Cold exposure benefits are numerous and well-documented, affecting both physical and mental aspects of your body. Some of the most prolific benefits arent ones youll see, but rather feel. You cant see the physiological changes to the lion as it stalks its antelope prey, but if youre the one doing the hunting, youll definitely feel different! Heres what you can expect from continued cold exposure therapy: Boosts Human Growth Hormone Boosts Human Growth Hormone Boosts Immune system (up to 300%) Boosts Immune system (up to 300%) Increases testosterone in men (up to 490%) Increases testosterone in men (up to 490%) Increases sperm count Increases sperm count Increases circulation Increases circulation Reduces swelling in joints Reduces swelling in joints Burns brown fat (adipose) in body Burns brown fat (adipose) in body Norepinephrine increases (up to 200-300%) Norepinephrine increases (up to 200-300%) Unpleasant, But Effective Cold exposure training presents a unique situation. Namely, its not very pleasant, very quickly. But it feels so incredible when we get done! Why is that? Well, it turns out there are real mechanisms to cold adaptationthose of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, and muscular systems. In shocking these systems with a frigid ice bath or exposure to cold, we trigger a response thats usually reserved for our most dire situations. The bodys response is the trifecta of optimization we need to survive: Increase metabolic rate to keep the core warm (protect what is important), and turn up the furnace internally with the release of free form fatty acids (FFAs) and glucose. Increase metabolic rate to keep the core warm (protect what is important), and turn up the furnace internally with the release of free form fatty acids (FFAs) and glucose. Restrict blood vessels and capillaries in the extremities (leave whats not important). In this way, the body teaches elasticity beyond just expanding in heat. Restrict blood vessels and capillaries in the extremities (leave whats not important). In this way, the body teaches elasticity beyond just expanding in heat. When we increase metabolic rate, were also asking our body to vasodilate (decrease blood pressure). This allows the systems above to work incredibly well. When we increase metabolic rate, were also asking our body to vasodilate (decrease blood pressure). This allows the systems above to work incredibly well. Cold Training Takes Persistence Cold training isnt a one-stop shop or something that yields lasting effects with a single exposure. It requires time and patience. Likewise, nobody can sit in cold water for extended periods without some form of acclimation to it. Effects and acclimation come with exposure. As the old saying goes, try, try again! Start small, maybe 0:30 1:00 for a couple of rounds with warm water or heat (sauna) between. Then, sit longer in water thats colder, incrementally increasing time and lowering temperature. It wont be long before you become the master of your cold domain. Youll become the lion.