Should Women Cold Plunge?!
There seems to be a lot of controversy right now about whether or not it is appropriate for women to do intentional cold therapy (or cold adaptation). Can you guess my take on it?I’ve been deliberately getting cold for over 7 years now and I think it’s fantastic for my health, resilience and longevity.
How did I get into it? I learned from Dr. Jack Kruse (and other experts I’d interviewed on WAPF’s Wise Traditions podcast) that the cold is amazingly beneficial for both sexes. Cold adaptation is a hormetic stressor, like exercise. And exercise is good for both men and women. And cold therapy is essentially a profound kind of exercise.
As with any weightlifting or resistance training, it’s important to find the sweet spot of challenging yourself just enough without hurting yourself. The same goes for cold. And just like with weight lifting, you shouldn’t go in the gym and try to press 300 pounds. That’s why I recommend easing into it, whether you’re a man or a woman.
But why bother with it, in the first place?
Here are some little-known facts about cold therapy (CT) :
The cold rejuvenates your mitochondria…and you, too, as a result. Some scientists say that all disease is related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondria (little engines in your cells) tend to stretch out over time and get kind of lazy—meaning they don’t function or create ATP like they used to. When we’re comfortable all the time, we do not demand that the mitochondria heat us from within so they stay stretched out. This makes them less productive, which makes us age faster and allows for disease to kick in more quickly. When we get cold, on the other hand, we kind of wake up the mitochondria and whip them into shape. The mitochondria, with the cold as “exercise,” stay younger and more fit (which means we are, too)!
The cold structures the water in your body! You’ve probably heard folks say that the human body is over 70% water. It’s not supposed to be sloshing around inside us, though. It’s meant to be in a kind of gel-like state called EZ water (Exclusion Zone water). And the more EZ water we have inside us, the better! I recently heard Dr. Jack Kruse, a quantum health expert, say that EZ water improves our hydration on a profound level, because it’s in the shape that is easiest for our cells to absorb. Basically, EZ water powers healthy cellular activity because the water is in its most natural, honeycomb, structured state.
The cold detoxes the body, strengthening our regulatory systems. Liver “shock” proteins are released into the blood stream when we expose ourselves to cold. These are proteins that the liver usually keeps in “reserve”, but it doles them out when it thinks we are in danger of dying. These proteins go immediately to work to detox from oxidative stress, removing free radicals from the body, making us less vulnerable to disease in the process!
I reiterate: these benefits are for both men and women. Of course, as a woman and a bio-individual woman at that, you should listen to your body before, during, and after the CT to see how you respond to it. And to ease into it, I suggest taking your time building up your cold callous. I use the following progression to build up cold tolerance and to benefit from the cold without overwhelming myself.
Shiver walk - I start this in the late fall. I take a walk every morning in a t-shirt and shorts for the same number of minutes as degrees (example: 30 minutes when it’s 30 degrees, 45 minutes when it’s 45 degrees, etc.) You might give it a try by just wearing one less layer for a limited amount of time. Use the weather (as our ancestors did) to challenge yourself!
Face plunge - Get a bowl of ice water and plunge your face into it for as long as you can hold your breath. Repeat it for 3 rounds. Hollywood stars do this for smaller pores and a more toned face!
Body plunge - Fill your bathtub with ice water or find a running creek or body of water near your home. Challenge yourself to get in and stay in (up to your neck) for 1-3 minutes. It sounds crazy but it’s so invigorating!
Cold shower - Turn your shower to cold as you start to wrap up your shower. It helps me to picture my shower as a waterfall–I then think of it as exhilarating instead of annoying! And I just try to go 15-30 seconds. A little bit at a time is a great way to start.
Cold invites you to be more courageous! A full dip is always cray but exhilarating!
I cannot recommend cold therapy more highly. In part, I love it because it is rooted in how our ancestors lived. They weren’t insulated from the cold (in cars, homes, and coffee shops). They were in the elements.
Some say that Oriental medicine and Ayurvedic principles stress that women should be warm. Admittedly, I haven’t studied these traditions in depth, but it seems to me that these don’t suggest that women should ALWAYS be warm.
Personally, I like the benefits that come from CT, which include: building resilience (mentally and physically), giving my mitochondria a workout and lengthening my telomeres (markers of longevity). And I’d MUCH rather get cold, then "catch” a cold. I honestly feel stronger than ever, in no small measure thanks to this little practice…that some say women shouldn’t attempt! How do you see it? Comment your perspective below!
