For over 20 years I have been drinking water at room temperature, except for a brief period when I was following the Ayurvedic suggestions that had me drinking hot water through out the day. (Truth is, it’s very relaxing.)
Many opinions hold that cold water makes the body work too hard. It has to expend energy to first bring it to body temperature and then digest it. These opinions suggest a loving approach to the body; don’t be too hard on it.
Last week I posted about the leptin reset that I am doing. It’s going real well, thank you. The same Dr. Jack Kruse has another protocol that goes along with it. It is called Cold Thermogenesis (CT). Ever hear about the Polar Bear Club? The people who swim in the ocean in midwinter? That is the ultimate CT.
The protocol starts by exposing the body gradually to cold. First drinking cold water and taking cooler and cooler showers then dunking your face for increased times in ice cold water and finally ice packs and ice baths for the body. The ice baths are an advanced technique to be used under the supervision of a health practitioner. Dr. Kruse claims that this protocol;
- Increases metabolism
- Is amazing for weight loss
- Reverses inflammation
- Better sleep
- Better recovery from exercise
- Boosts thyroid and adrenal function
Athletes, military units, and scientists have used this to increase the limits of human endurance.
Ray Cronise at Thermogenex – Fuel the Burn, says you only need to expose yourself to temps below your body temp to reap the benefits. Cool showers (60-75 deg), swimming in cool water (70-80 deg), and lowering your ambient temperature (house thermostat) to below 60 degrees are all good ways to increase CT.
Dr. Kruse advocates ice baths and extreme cold air temps found in walk-in chillers to be better. He says you should shoot for a skin temp of 55 degrees in your CT session. If this is done, care should be taken to avoid hypothermia and frostbite. He also advises starting by soaking your face in cold water to activate the ‘mammalian dive reflex’. Mammalian diving reflex – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
These opinions drive the body and push it to be in better internal shape. It’s kind of like the difference between restorative yoga and hard-core Crossfit training. You choose.
Warm water is definitely more soothing and comfortable. The thought of cold showers makes me cringe. However I know that uncomfortable situations do make us grow in many ways.
I am kind of on the fence on this one. As far as weightloss is concerned, weightloss remedies always have some thing in them that increases heat in the body to speed up metabolism. That is exactly what CT does. I do like the idea and the benefits of Cold Thermogenesis. I may just start with a glass of cold water and give my body a little internal workout!
I would love to hear what you think of this in the comments below. Let’s get this conversation going!!!
