The doctor spoke about the health effects of ice baths

Ice baths are becoming more and more popular among those who seek to improve their physical condition, lift their mood and speed up recovery after workouts. Are they really good for health, Dr. Georgine Nanos, a certified family doctor and owner of Kind Health Group, told Popular Science magazine.

She claims that ice baths can benefit the body, but their effectiveness depends on specific goals. However, cold therapy may not be recommended for some people, especially those with cardiovascular disease or arrhythmia.

As for the procedure itself, it involves immersion in water with a temperature of about + 15 degrees. Beginners are advised to start with 30 seconds, gradually increasing the time to two minutes. The maximum duration of the dive is five to six minutes, and at temperatures below +15 degrees, care must be taken.

According to Nanos, ice baths cause certain physiological changes in the body. Cold activates the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to the release of hormones such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which help improve mood and increase energy levels.

In addition, when immersed in cold water, blood vessels constrict, and after leaving the water they expand, which improves blood circulation.

However, the specialist warns against excessive enthusiasm for these procedures, especially after intensive training. Research shows that prolonged exposure to cold can slow down muscle growth.

"If you do this too soon, you'll dull muscle protein synthesis. It is recommended to wait 4-6 hours after training, so as not to reduce the effectiveness of recovery," Nanos said.

On August 8, Ekaterina Kashukh, an expert at the Hemotest Laboratory, told Izvestia why some people like to chew ice. This unusual condition is called pagophagia, which is one of the three most common types of picacism. These are eating disorders in which a person eats or tries to at least nibble, lick, or taste something inedible. One of the most common causes of picacism is iron deficiency anemia.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.