Cold water therapy has generated its fair share of inquiries and controversies due to the abundance of new information online. Do ice baths burn fat? is currently one of the most popular questions regarding cold therapy on Google.
Yes, cold water therapy does aid in weight loss, to give you the quick answer, but there’s more to it than that.
Do Cold Baths and Cold Showers Improve Mental Health?
The effect of cold water therapy on mental health is a topic of great interest to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology.
In one study, researchers hypothesized that cold water immersion might have antipsychotic effects like those induced by electroconvulsive therapy. Think about that for a second: A freezing cold shower could possibly impact the brain in the same way as electroshock therapy. And if that’s what you need, it can be a good thing. This study, however, wasn’t conclusive.
Another study out of the same department looked at whether cold showers could be a treatment for depression. These researchers hypothesized the depression was caused by two factors:
Researchers were optimistic after this study that cold therapy might be beneficial but they still needed to conduct more research with a larger sample size. Read my article Can a Bath Boost Mental Health? Definitely for much more information on the effect of baths on mental health.
I regret to inform you, but you might be wasting your time if you risk freezing to death in the hopes of fitting back into your “hot jeans.”
I bring you this news despite the famous people who swear that routinely shivering in an ice bath has helped them lose weight. These chill celebrities include NASA scientist Ray Cronise and popular life hacker and author of The 4-Hour Body Tim Ferriss.
To be fair, it’s possible that research hasn’t yet established how the big chill affects the big tummy.
However, at least one researcher asserts that shivering for an hour can burn 400 calories. That’s roughly how many calories I’d burn on the elliptical in an hour, if I could manage to do it for the full hour. But then again, there’s also no chance that I’d spend an hour in an ice bath.
So while the research on cold water immersion and weight loss isn’t yet crystal clear (no pun intended), there is great news to share: soaking in a hot bath definitely burns calories. This is called passive heating, and it can be accomplished by sitting in a sauna as well.
One hour of soaking in a hot bath burns 140 calories, which is equivalent to the number of calories lost in a 30-minute walk. But that’s a very hot bath—104 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend several hours in a slightly less hot bath knowing for sure that I’m burning 420 calories than spend any time in a cold bath. Don’t miss this post if you want to learn more about the best baths for weight loss.
And in case you were wondering, there are a number of advantages to passive heating besides weight loss, such as enhanced cardiovascular health and decreased inflammation.
First off, a cold shower offers this benefit more so than an ice bath. In an ice bath, you definitely do not want to dunk your head Bad idea. Having said that, shea butter is to skin what cold water is to hair. In other words, it can actually make it appear incredibly nourished and healthy.
The top salon for treating frizz swears by the advantages of using cold water, which is my scientific evidence for this one. Listen up: I once spent a lot of money getting my hair cut in a Manhattan salon that specializes in cutting curly hair. I discovered that cold water is my friend at my DevaChan appointment, which was more like a religious experience.
Those of us with curls suffer from frizziness, especially on days that are muggy and humid. The frizz is actually the result of the dry air making our hair stand on end in search of moisture. After our showers, if we can withstand a cold blast, we can keep the conditioner and moisture in. Our hair will be shiny and healthy looking.
According to the DevaCurl blog, you should shower with cold water if at all possible:
My hair did appear shiny and healthy when I left the salon, but that only lasted until I resumed my weak habits and washed it once more in a scorching hot shower.
Perhaps a genuine experiment is required to support what all of us people with curly hair already believe.
A Common Ice Bath Myth
Many athletes take ice baths, because they think immersing themselves in cold water following a workout helps the muscle build faster. Unfortunately, a study that came out this month debunks this myth.
For seven weeks, a group of men who were lifting weights were observed in the study. After each weightlifting session, the athletes in the experimental group took an ice bath, while the members of the control group did nothing.
After the trial period, researchers examined their muscles. The mass of their muscle fibers had increased in all of them. On the other hand, those in the control group had larger muscles.
The lead researcher in the study theorized that the reason for less muscle mass development is that the body is prioritizing keeping muscles warm over helping them grow. In a recent article in the New York Times, the researcher Dr. Peterson said:
Bulking up isn’t one of the benefits of taking a cold bath after working out, though there are others.
According to medical experts, those who have the following conditions shouldn’t take ice baths or immerse themselves in cold water:
These ailments are linked to issues with the veins and arteries’ ability to pump blood. The cold temperature of immersion can lead to danger.
Additionally, spending too much time in a cold bath can cause hypothermia, so anyone who feels pain or numbness in a cold bath should exit right away.
How to Take an Ice Bath – 7 Steps
Do you still want to take the risk after learning about the potential advantages and disadvantages of ice baths and cold water immersion?
Sincerely, I still have pain in the area where I dislocated my rib. For weeks, I haven’t been able to return to the gym. It’s almost—almost—enough to convince me that the temporary discomfort of being exposed to my worst fear—the cold—would be worth it.
I decided to research how to take an ice bath in case I decide to go through with it, just for fun.
Here’s what I found:
Buy a bag of ice. Fill the tub halfway with cold water. Add half the bag of ice to start. Before adding any more ice, you will now measure the water’s temperature using a thermometer.
If you’re an experienced ice bather, you can aim for a temperature of 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, but you’ll have to practice for that over time, just like with any athletic activity. You don’t want to shock your system and cause problems. Start with a bath that is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, then lower the temperature by two degrees the following time.
If your bath is too cold, add warm water. If it’s too warm, add more ice.
You’ll want to cover your top with a shirt. Additionally, you are permitted to put on socks or booties and underwear.
Prepare an activity to do while relaxing in the bathtub. This is not about unwinding in the manner of a hot tub. Bring a book or set up your iPad with your favorite show on it on the bathroom counter since this is more about surviving.
For your first cold bath, aim for 6 minutes. every bath, extend the duration by two minutes, eventually reaching ten to fifteen minutes.
Start by rising to your feet and sitting upright in the tub. You can also gently ease your back under the water if you’d like. (However, if you only make it that far, bravo for your tenacity. I’m impressed. ).
To prevent shock, only submerge your lower half of your body. Start with 6 minutes and gradually increase it to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, in the summer heat, you could begin with a cool bath rather than an ice bath. Even a DIY bath bomb that works in cold water can be created!
Dry off and put on something warm and cozy. (Here’s my all-time coziest bathrobe. ) If you need a warm shower, wait 30 minutes.
So Will I take the Ice Bath Plunge?
Some of us are cold-wimps at birth. I am one and I’m proud. Because of this, after careful thought, investigation, and deliberation, I agree with the New York Times reader who provided the following perspective in response to a recent article on ice baths:
Despite the fact that I have no nuts to speak of, I concur that it is foolish to overheat when it is not necessary.
FAQ
Do you burn calories in ice bath?
Regularly submerging yourself in cold water can help to increase the effectiveness and strength of your brown fat. This key point can potentially help you lose weight. You will likely burn more calories after getting out of the cold water as long as you don’t eat more to make up for the urge to snack.
How many calories do you burn in a 10 minute ice bath?
According to research, exposure to cold only slightly speeds up metabolism, adding 10–20 calories to the total calories burned during a 10-minute cold shower.
How many calories does a 15 minute cold bath burn?
As many as 62 calories can be burned during a 15-minute cold shower. Visit our dedicated blog, Cold Shower vs Hot Shower – What Are The Benefits, for more information on the advantages of taking cold showers.
Is ice bath good for Weight Loss?
According to a recent study, ice baths may aid in body fat reduction. Exposure to cold water also seems to guard against insulin resistance and diabetes Other health benefits were less clear, however.
Reference:
https://bathtubber.com/ice-bath-benefits/
How many calories do you burn inside an ice bath?
by u/DrNatoor in BecomingTheIceman
