Cold shower/cold plunge?
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What are the Peaty thoughts on cold showers/cold plunges? I know they can increase cortisol, but there are some thoughts they can reduce baseline cortisol over time.
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@esotericizzy David Sinclair had been an advocate of cold temp exposure to develop brown adipose tissue and increase longevity. There are cold water baths that are supposedly good for you.
Personally I had to swim a lot as a child and most of the time the water was cold. I hated swimming in cold water and in adulthood am pretty adverse towards swimming in general, it is almost always gross and uncomfortable.
David Sinclair talks about hunker down genes being activated but that seems to contradict stress being an aging factor. As to whether the cortisol is worth it, I don't think it is, but maybe if you enjoy cold you won't get a cortisol response.
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Dr Peat was asked about it in an interview once, but I don't remember which one. If I remember correctly, he said cold exposure is okay if you have good metabolism and are generally healthy. It's not advisable if that's not the case.
I can somewhat relate to this from own experience. I took cold showers in my early twenties, when I was influenced be several lines of thoughts (or ideologies) like Paleo, crossfit or Nofap. I felt some benefits like increased alertness, energy and immunity to coldness to some extent. You know, back in the early 20s, when you can do almost everything to your body without negative consequences.
I tried it again in my late 20s/early 30s, after my health had already deteriorated for a number of reasons. My experience then was the opposite. It increased stress levels even more and I felt even worse.
In some health communities there is the thought process, that some stressors are inherently "good stressors" (coldness, fasting, exercising etc.) while some are inherently "bad". And if you feel bad and have poor health, you just have to expose yourself to lots of "good stressors" in order to recover. I don't agree with that line of thought. It depends on the context of the individual person. Stressors like cold exposure or exercise have their place, but it depends. If you are of ill health and low energy, heavy exercise and other "positive stressors" tend to amplify that state in my experience. Once you improved your health and environment, I think cold exposure can be a positive.
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This is a timely question. On New Years Day people go to the local lake or river and take the plunge into the cold water to become a member of the 'polar bear club'. Television stations like to report on this ritual. Typically, no one dies.
The cold water plunge can be very stressful to the body.
Peatbot.com: Cold showers can have several health benefits, but they may not be suitable for everyone. Here are some potential benefits and considerations based on the context provided:
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Temperature Regulation: Cold showers can help regulate body temperature, especially after activities that cause overheating, such as exercise or sauna use. This can help the body adjust and prepare for sleep by reducing the activation of heat shock proteins, which are triggered by overheating.
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Metabolic and Nervous System Effects: Cold exposure can stimulate the nervous system and potentially increase metabolic rate. However, it requires the body to focus internally to maintain temperature, which might not be suitable for everyone.
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Energy and Fatigue: While cold showers can be invigorating and refreshing, they can also drain energy if the water is too cold or if the exposure is too prolonged. It's important to monitor how your body responds to cold exposure to avoid fatigue.
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Inflammation and Stress: Cold exposure can potentially trigger stress responses if it leads to a significant drop in body temperature, which can activate inflammatory signals. This is similar to the body's response to environmental chilling or viral infections.
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Individual Tolerance: The ability to tolerate cold showers varies among individuals. Some people, like those who practice the Wim Hof Method, may find that cold exposure strengthens their resilience, but it can be dangerous for others if it leads to hypothermia or excessive stress.
Overall, cold showers can be beneficial for some people, but it's important to listen to your body and adjust the exposure based on your personal tolerance and health conditions. If you experience negative effects such as excessive fatigue or stress, it may be best to limit the duration or intensity of cold exposure.
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I believe Jay Feldman has a whole podcast episode on this.
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@happyhanneke said in Cold shower/cold plunge?:
I believe Jay Feldman has a whole podcast episode on this.
They (Jay and Mike) have a series on hormesis, yes.
The Energy Balance Podcast - Episodes 75 to 78, and episodes 93 and 94 seem to go in that direction as well (haven't listened to it yet).
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@Luke
would you recommend the podcast for health information in general? -
@pondfountain said in Cold shower/cold plunge?:
@Luke
would you recommend the podcast for health information in general?I haven't listened to it in more than a year, so I can't say anything about newer episodes. But the first ~ 15 episodes are I think a good introduction to the Bioenergetic world of thought.
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