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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| An icy dip, sleeping with the windows open, running half-naked...and a nice cold beer: How my 24-hour Scandi lifestyle during Britain's Arctic blast taught me the healing powers of smugness |
| 2024-01-20 |
| [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] In recent years, cold therapy has taken off in the UK with thousands of Brits now turning down the temperature in their showers and swimming in ponds to achieve the health benefits and mindfulness associated with the Skandi lifestyle. And when you think what you may stand to gain, it's obvious why so many people are taking the plunge. Did you know, for example, that it's easier to exercise in the cold? Or that you sleep longer and better when your bedroom is chilly? Or that dialing down the room temperature by a few degrees could reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes? Indeed, decades of research has linked cold exposure, whether in the form of a shower, bath or run outdoors during the depths of winter, to a myriad of benefits. These include boosting the immune system, helping you lose weight and cutting down stress levels. There's broad consensus then that exposing yourself to the cold basically makes you a healthier, happier and better person. But how often do you have to expose yourself to the elements to reap these benefits? I call up Dr Michael Mosley, the wellbeing guru who's an expert on just about every health fad there is. He also swears by cold water therapy, and is a regular of the cold water shower game, so he should know what he's talking about. I begin by explaining to Dr Mosley what I hope to achieve and tentatively ask what super powers I can expect to gain from my 24-hour Arctic jolly. 'Oh, the health benefits come with time rather than just doing it once', he says, 'Regular cold water swimmers report, you know, an improvement in mood, reduction in things like that, because it kind of de-stresses generally. That seems to be one of the major benefits another one was a study done in Holland. 'But again, it has to be something that happens over time.' Ah, a snag in the road. Undeterred I explain the various activities I will be trying over the 24-hours, including cold water showers, open water swimming and sleeping with the window open. Dr Mosley continues: 'My advice to you. If you can have a cold shower is, start off hot, you know. Wash yourself, get it hot, and then turn it cold. 'And personally I sing very loudly as that distracts me from the pain, whereas my wife Claire stands there stoically. And again, the advice is broadly, you're supposed to stay in there until you stop hyperventilating.' Gotcha - but I'm still nervous. I ask the Dr if I'm likely to see next to no benefits from the cold water exposure am I instead running the risk of opening myself up to pointless shock? 'That's the one yes,' he says, 'the health benefits of just one immersion are likely to be minimal. You'll get all the disadvantages with very few of the advantages, but when you persist, as I said, it's the persistence. 'It's got to be going on regularly, having cold showers or a cold swim. 'To be honest, I wouldn't be starting now, if you've never done it before. My recommendation to people is they start in the summer when it's quite warm, and then they gradually, you know, decide whether that's something they want to persist with. 'Starting now will be particularly brutal.' So after seeking expert advice and being told in no uncertain terms my exercise was futile, I embarked on my Scandinavian journey. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #4 Some of the videos on YouTube of bikini girls doing the ice plunge thing are enough to get my blood moving. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2024-01-20 14:11 |
| #3 try skiing |
| Posted by: 746 2024-01-20 14:09 |
| #2 On the hunt today for bottled propane. Grills, barn and trough heaters all empty. Down to my last one (of 6) on the hot tub. Warming soon I think. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-01-20 08:40 |
| #1 Brave Orthodox Christians plunge into icy water for Epiphany celebrations across Europe despite temperatures as low as -41C |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-01-20 08:36 |