Once upon a time our cardiovascular system was able to deal with a broad range of temperatures, but over time we have become accustomed to central heating, socks and scarves. The key to re-conditioning our bodies is to exercise the minute muscles that surround our arteries, veins and capillaries. These muscles are activated during cold therapy, which is known as Thermo-genesis.

Dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ chemical that the human body releases is increased by 250% during cold exposure. Norepinephrine is also increased by up to 300%, it is a neurotransmitter and hormone that creates alertness, wakefulness, memory retrieval and formation. So obviously yes, it is absolutely fantastic for your mental health.

Shivering is the body’s natural response to cold exposure. While activating muscle tissue, it uses glucose and free form fatty acids to generate heat within the body, which subsequently burns fat. At the same time, vasodilation and vasoconstriction work collaboratively to turn your metabolism’s focus to fat burning.

As a society, our ‘Window of Tolerance’ to every day stress has decreased. Cold immersion enhances the tolerance of the nervous system by exposing it to minor stress. While used in collaboration with breath work, you can find comfort within discomfort. This subsequently reduces the symptoms of a de-regulated nervous system e.g. anxiety and depression.

There are multiple studies that have linked cold therapy to massive improvements on the immune system. These studies show that T-Cells, the white blood cell now commonly believed to be responsible for the protection against Covid-19, are hugely increased.