“I could never!” The Benefits of Cold Plunging
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If you follow current health and wellness trends, chances are you’ve noticed the growing popularity of cold plunging and ice baths. Spending a few challenging minutes in freezing water is nothing new—its use can actually be traced back to Ancient Greek civilizations, where cold therapy was recorded for its therapeutic benefits. While the practice has become more mainstream recently, it has stood the test of time for good reason. I’ve experienced many of these benefits firsthand after investing in my own cold plunge barrel!
If you’re unfamiliar with the practice of cold plunging, here’s how it works:
Get a tub of water to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or find a chilly natural body of water.
Hop in and submerge your body up to your shoulders.
Breathe through the next 3–5 minutes!
As you might expect, these minutes are quite uncomfortable. However, this discomfort is where I’ve personally reaped the most significant benefits.
Mental Health
Subjecting myself to a few minutes of discomfort and learning how to breathe through it has helped me build a mental toughness I didn’t realize I was capable of. Cold plunging can alleviate stress and anxiety because it requires intense focus and effort to override the brain’s natural instinct to seek comfort and get out. In other words, it’s hard to worry about anything else when you’re physically uncomfortable!
Once the time is up, there’s a great sense of accomplishment and confidence in knowing you’re capable of doing hard things. This ties into the common reaction of “I could never!” when people hear about cold plunging. But that exact “I can’t” feeling is what makes it so mentally beneficial to try! Completing something you initially feel incapable of triggers a dopamine release, leaving you with a euphoric mental high. When combined with the physical benefits, it’s truly an unbeatable combination.
Physical Health
When we experience an injury, the first thing we often do is apply ice, as cold helps combat swelling and inflammation. Similarly, you can think of cold plunging as “icing” your whole body! This practice is especially helpful for muscle recovery, which is how I ended up with my own cold plunge barrel in the first place.
My husband’s job is extremely physically demanding, and he would come home every night nearly unable to walk due to soreness. Having tried cold plunges before, he was interested in getting one at home to combat the wear and tear of his job. After investing in a cold plunge barrel and a few ice molds to chill the water, he now feels almost as good as new after using cold therapy to relieve muscle soreness.
My Recommendations
When it comes to this wellness practice, the benefits are similar whether you fill your bathtub with ice or invest in a high-end tub worth thousands of dollars. The difference in the setup mostly comes down to aesthetics, filters, and cooling systems versus using ice. Since we have a small patio space, we opted for a mid-range choice: an inflatable tub paired with a few ice block molds. I’ll link these below!
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As always, these are my personal experiences and it is important to consult with your doctor and do your own research before deciding if this practice is safe and healthy for your own lifestyle.