Ice Bath Adelaide | Contrast Therapy | Cold Plunge Recovery
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OVERALL HEALTH
Immune system support
Increase blood flow
Reduce chronic pain
Boost your metabolism
Better sleep
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MENTAL HEALTH
Boost in energy
Elevate mood
Practice discipline
Increased resilience
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RECOVERY
Lower inflammation
Reduce muscle soreness
Boost performance
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ENERGY
Everybody has their own method for waking up; double shots of espresso, a quick workout, and so on. If you’re looking for a quick start to your morning, however, ice baths might just be the answer. Many people turn to ice baths when looking for a new way to boost their daily energy!
As noted in Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s report “Cold Shocking the Body: Exploring Cryotherapy, Cold Water Immersion, and Cold Stress” plunging into cold water triggers the production of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, a critical chemical in the body that helps regulate attention, focus, and energy! A daily ice bath can help increase your levels of norepinephrine, simultaneously increasing your energy.
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RESILIENCE
Just like an intense workout pushes the limits of your body, a quick ice bath every day can push the limits of your mind! Believe us, it can be difficult to make that first plunge into an ice-cold tub, but the payoff is amazing.
Each day that you return to the plunge, you’ll find it easier and easier to hop in, until you reach the day where you can’t wait for that icy rush of energy. A habit of ice baths can do wonders for your mental and physical toughness.
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PHYSICAL RECOVERY
Ice bath benefits extend beyond the mental and chemical aspects of your body too. Sports medicine has utilised cold water therapy for years, to help the active recovery of your muscles.
Studies have shown a connection between ice baths, and blood vessel constriction, meaning that when we enter cold water, our blood vessels will shrink, bringing our blood flow closer to the vital organs. After leaving the ice bath tub, our blood vessels re-open, which not only improves circulation but also helps to flush out parts of our immune system! Post-workout or not, the physical benefits of cold therapy are well worth your time.
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DISCIPLINE
Most of us have trouble with building habits; it’s why so many New Year's Resolutions go unfulfilled. At first glance, ice baths might not seem any easier to stick to, but it’s simpler than it appears. The key is sticking to a schedule.
If you stick to a ice bath schedule, you might find habit building a whole lot easier! Because a ice bath only takes about 5 minutes each day, you can turn it into a routine pretty easily, and once you have one habit built, the next one is that much easier.
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MOOD
Remember the hormone norepinephrine from above? Researchers have known for a while that it connects to our daily energy, but in recent studies, they have found that it may help with our moods as well. In particular, there is more and more evidence that a lack of norepinephrine can contribute to depression, meaning that a cold plunge might help to reduce depression and improve overall mood!
Though there is still plenty of research to be done, there’s no denying the boost of endorphins you get from a daily plunge.
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DESTRESS & SLEEP
When you dip into the ice bath, your body triggers the autonomic nervous system. This system is a network of vessels and nerves, split into two parts that control your response to stress. The first part, the sympathetic nervous system, triggers your “fight or flight” response, while the second part, the parasympathetic nervous system, helps to shut it down once the stress has passed. By enduring this stress on your body daily, you can begin to train both systems to your benefit.
When you begin to control your response to stress, you’ll likely find that you can also control your relaxation and sleep.
