Celebs tout ice baths, but science on benefits is lukewarm
THE MINDYou might call Dan O’Conor an amateur authority on cold water immersion. But Cronenwett says studying cold water immersion with a gold-standard randomized controlled trial is challenging because devising a placebo for cold plunges could be difficult. Cronenwett says cold water immersion stimulates the part of the nervous system that controls the resting or relaxation state. It also helps the body burn calories, which has prompted research into whether cold water immersion is an effective way to lose weight. O'Conor plunges year-round, but he says winter dunks are the best for “mental clarity,” even if they sometimes last only 30 seconds.
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