What are the benefits of cold exposure?
Sources:
Cold exposure has multiple benefits, according to discussions on the :
- Increases metabolism and brown fat stores, which help to heat the body up and stay warm in cold environments 1.
- Reduces inflammation and increases resilience 1.
- Increases dopamine levels by 2.5 times, leading to a better mood and alertness and helping to manage stress 1 2.
- Can aid in addiction recovery by providing a healthy dopamine boost 2.
- Builds self-discipline and mental toughness, as cold is a modifiable stressor 3.
- Can convert white fat cells to thermogenic beige or brown fat, which helps you to stay lean and serves as a heating reservoir 4.
- Likely does not lead to significant increases in cortisol, unlike other stressors, suggesting it creates eustress—stress that has positive health outcomes 5.
As for the effect on fertility, deliberate cold exposure can positively and indirectly affect hormone levels in both males and females, particularly for fertility, by regulating cortisol and hormone production 6.
It's important to note that these benefits come from deliberate and safe practices of cold exposure, which should be progressively built up to avoid shock and potential harm 6.
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