Ice baths, wellness fashion loved by celebrities and influences, could have the opposite effect of the promised one and lead to fattening instead of weight loss, a new study shows.
The researchers tested volunteers with different temperatures-35 ° C, 26 ° C and 16 ° C-for 30 minutes, then offered them to discretion. The result: the colder the water was, the more the feeling of hunger increased. Those who stayed in the coldest water consumed over 200 extra calories, according to The New York Post.
Marie Grigg, researcher at Coventry University, says that it is not yet known why diving in cold water increases the lust, but additional research is needed, reports
The coach Natalya Alexeyenko in New York has a theory: during the immersion, the body enters the thermoregulation mode – the blood vessels contract, the heart rate increases and the metabolism accelerates. But after leaving, the body continues to cool and send the signal “We need energy now”, even if you are not hungry.
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Increased attention to what the body requires us
Many respond to this signal with caloric bombs that lead to fattening. Expert advice: Give up snacks and “recharge yourself smart” with weak proteins, complex carbohydrates and green leafy vegetables, plus a hot drink.
Ice baths can also slow down muscle growth and have serious risks – hyperventilation, hypothermia, drowning or even cardiac arrest.
Expert François Haman warns: “to assume that everyone reacts the same to the cold is extremely dangerous.”
Dr. Craig Van Dien says there is no clear evidence that cold water baths help depression or recovery, but can reduce muscle pain. He recommends that people with heart problems, diabetes, asthma or other chronic conditions first consult a doctor.
