Cold Plunging and Women
Why it may not be for you.
Cold exposure has been all the rage lately. And the preferred method seems to be taking the plunge. Be it in a 7,000.00 perfectly chilled and filtered plunge tub, a simple plastic cold pod or just a cold dip in the ocean everyone seems to be singing the praises of a good old fashioned cold plunge.
Why Cold Plunge What’s All the Hype?
Here are some of the potential benefits of cold plunging:
Workout recovery tool - though should not be used immediately after working out
Reduces joint and muscle pain
Reduce inflammation
Amp up metabolism by increasing brown fat
Regulate blood sugar
Improve insulin sensitivity
Relieve stress
Boost mood
Whether it does all these things time will tell, I just know that it feels amazing! But should everyone be doing it? What about a women’s physiology, what you need to know?
Should Women Be Cold Plunging?
Cold plunging is what we call a hormetic stressor. Like exercise and fasting, it is an intentional stress we put on our body to elicit a certain adaptive stress response that improves our health, ie muscle growth.
We are such a delicate balance of hormones, unique to women, that enable us to produce and nurture tiny humans. Too great a stressor such as an ice bath, may produce too much of a stress response, downregulating our estrogen, progesterone and thyroid. This is actually a normal and necessary response. For during times of intense stress our body should not take on the added burden of carrying a child, so our reproductive system goes on hiatus until the stressor passes. This mechanism makes sure we are in the most ideal situation to birth a baby.
Due to this hormonal response, women need to be particularly careful not to over stress the body. You see this hormonal dysregulation will not only affect your cycles but your mood, metabolism and gut health.
So how can you tell if your body will find this stressor beneficial or detrimental?
You can test! Using a lab test such as the functional medicine Stress Mood & Metabolism, will let you know what your hormone and stress level currently is. If your stress level is too high, then identifying and addressing the stressors first, will bring your body into a state of balance that will now not only tolerate cold plunging but will also benefit from it.
If you would rather not test then just take an internal assessment of what is going on it your body.
Are you experiencing any kind of hormonal dysregulation, amenorrhea (missed periods), postpartum, or are you at your bleed week in your cycle. You may want to forego this type of therapy for the time being.
You could also try a plug and note how your feel. If you have a hard time warming up again, if you are tired and exhausted for the rest of the day, your body is telling you this is too much.
If this is the case then maybe cold-plunging is not for you at this time. Still want to try it? Don’t worry I got you.
Alternative Cold Exposure Methods
This does not mean you cannot receive the benefits of a cold plunge, you may just need to choose a milder therapy such as:
Cool walk outside without a jacket
Cold shower
Cold face plunge
Cold plunge with water temp no colder than 55F.
These milder therapies may still illicit the same benefits of cold plunging, increased alertness, as well as elevated dopamine and norepinephrine.
Giving you a boost and revival without over stressing the endocrine system.
People have used cold temperatures for therapeutic reasons for centuries. An article on UCLA Health says that taking cold showers may do everything from improving your mood to boosting your immunity to common colds
All I know is that when done at the appropriate times, I derive the most natural boost in mood, energy and confidence.
As with any new lifestyle therapy please consult with your doctor/physician as to if this is safe for you.
Disclaimer:
The information provided on this wellness blog is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
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