Today on the blog we’ve compiled all of Dr. Andrew Huberman’s ice bath tips & tricks for you.
You’ve probably been seeing Lauryn’s IG Stories with her, Michael & Westin cold plunging, then jumping in the sauna. Well, it’s not just for fun! There are some big time health benefits to hot/cold therapy. We’ll get to that.
If you have yet to meet Dr. Huberman, allow us to introduce you.
Andrew Huberman PhD is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neuroplasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behavior skills and cognitive functioning.
He has a phenomenal podcast called Huberman Lab that Lauryn and Michael are both regular listeners of. Highly recommended because he does a great job presenting information that’s science-backed, digestible, applicable to literally everyone.
Dr. Huberman has also been on The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER for a 2 part episode and it is PACKED with useful information that you can apply to your own life.
Over the next few weeks we’re going to feature a few more blog posts of Dr. Huberman’s tips & tricks, but today, we’re going to focus on his ice bath tips.
Dr. Andrew Huberman’s Ice Bath Tips & Tricks:
♡ use it to protect yourself from stress.
To get better at dealing with stress, you can work at increasing your stress threshold. Ice baths test you physically and mentally, but by breathing, realizing you WILL feel agitated, and powering through (to a safe limit) will increase your adrenaline levels. Your body will become comfortable with adrenaline surges (hello fight or flight!) and you will be able to handle sudden, stressful situations much better. Like, there’s a reason they use cold exposure to in the special forces, guys.
♡ cold plunge early in the day.
“Why? Because it gives you a shot of adrenaline and when you’re in the cold, yes, your body temperature goes down, but when you get out, the metabolism increases due to an increase in body temperature.
An increase in body temperature wakes you up. Sauna, or any kind of hot environment, is the opposite. So even 20 seconds at a very cold temperature, or 20 minutes at a moderately cool temperature, causes a massive increase in epinephrine, adrenaline, and dopamine that lasts several hours. So improvements in alertness & in mood. These are healthy increases in dopamine and epinephrine and in metabolism.”
♡ ease into it.
Start slow, challenge yourself, but don’t get hypothermic.
Lauryn’s Hot Tip: start with some freezing cold showers. Just 1 minute can be really beneficial.
♡ get comfortable with the cold, but not too comfortable.
“You actually don’t want to cold adapt too much because then you won’t get the benefits. You’ll still get some benefits, but not too many. So the pain is a good thing, provided it doesn’t harm you.”
♡ end on a cold note.
If you’re doing hot/cold therapy, you’ll probably want end with the sauna. Try to end with COLD. This allows your body to heat up naturally which will stimulate your metabolism.
When it comes to the sauna, you can do anywhere from 5-20 minutes per session and aim to do it as much as you’re able. Remember, START SLOW, hot & cold therapy needs to be done in a way that’s safe for you. Don’t overdo it.
And while we’re here, let’s link out Westin’s, Michael’s & Lauryn’s hats so you’re doing hot/cold therapy in style. LOL. So, why do they wear sauna hats? They regulate the temperature of your head, ears, and even prevent damage to your hair. In a nutshell, your head heats up the fastest and the hats keep your head relatively ‘cool.’
All The Ice Bath Benefits:
+ Speeds up muscle & injury recovery
+ Reduces inflammation
+ improves fat burning
+ improves skin conditions
+ builds mental toughness
+ Supports a healthy immune system
+ Improves lymphatic circulation
+ Increases red blood cell count & growth hormone levels
+ Improves levels of endurance & recovery
+ Increases cardiovascular health
+ Improves sleep & reducing stress
Be sure to listen to part 1 and part 2 of Dr. Huberman’s podcast episode. If you’re into simple, FREE, tips, tricks & hacks that can seriously increase your mental & physical health, you’re going to be obsessed with these episodes.
Also, if you’re wanting to try a sauna but don’t want to spend all that money or don’t have one near you, give Higher Dose a try. It enhances relaxation, promotes glowing skin and is perfect for people who don’t have space for a full blown sauna. And you can use code SKINNY15 for 15% off your purchase.
On the other hand, if you’re like get me that fucking barrel sauna, email Hilary@theskinnyconfidential.com for details.
Anyway, this post is just a speck of knowledge that Dr. Huberman shares in his podcast. Like, if you only listen to one HIM & HER podcast in your life, let it be this one.
Oh, & if you’re interested in your own at-home ice bath, Lauryn and Michael have The Cold Plunge indoors (use code SKINNY150 for $150 off) & a Blue Cube Ice Bath outdoors (use code SKINNY for $500 off). And if you’re low on space give an Ice Barrel a try (use code SKINNY for $125 off).
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ stalk the breathwork that will change your life.
++ check out all the benefits of connecting with nature.
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