3 overlooked benefits of cold plunges

It’s the middle of the night and I am on a red-eye flight over Canada. The darkness and cold air blowing on me has me thinking a lot about the cold, mental health, and the small business we are fighting to get off the ground in Leduc.

Most people think of cold as uncomfortable, and most of the time it is. They think of ‘extreme weirdos’ cutting holes in frozen lakes and jumping in, and this causes them to dismiss the idea of trying a cold plunge. This is unfortunate, because cold plunges can, and probably will, change your life.

(Let me just say here that at Sole Nordic Wellness, our cold plunge is part of a Nordic Circuit, where you get a hot, cold, and rest phase, and not just cold alone)

The popular benefits of cold plunges, often touted by ‘social media gurus’, are improved circulation: reduced muscle soreness and inflammation, and increased energy and alertness.

But did you know that there is an extensive body of research into the impact of cold plunges on mental health? Here’s three mental health topics studied by researchers:

Anxiety Reduction:

A case study published in the British Medical Journal Case Reports (2018) documented the case of a young woman with severe anxiety and depression who experienced significant improvement in her symptoms after taking regular cold water swims. The study concluded that cold water swimming could be a potential treatment for anxiety and mood disorders

Antidepressant Effects:

Research published in PsychoPharmacology (2000) found that repeated cold water exposure could increase the availability of noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. This increase in noradrenaline might contribute to the antidepressant effects observed in individuals who regularly engage in cold water immersion.

Enhanced Cognitive Function:

A study in the Journal of Thermal Biology (2005) found that cold exposure could improve alertness and cognitive performance in individuals, potentially due to the increased release of neurotransmitters and improved blood circulation to the brain.

Pictured: The cold plunge At Søle Nordic Wellness Spa

At Søle Nordic Wellness Spa, our ambition is to expose you to a type of healing and health that has helped humans for hundreds of years… It helps Vikings conquer new lands and it helps me on a day-to-day basis.

Stop by and say hello, we’d be happy to show you more of our space.

Connie Thompson

Owner of Søle Nordic Wellness Spa