Pulling on your swim trunks, hopping in the car and going to the beach is a scene you
probably don't associate with winter, unless, you like a good
Polar Bear Swim.
The polar bear plunge seems like a crazy thing to do.
Firstly, if you're not familiar, a polar bear swim is a when a person jumps into a body
of water when it's cold outside.
Over 2000 people do it at Coney Island, outside of New York City, on January 1st, every year.
These cray people are members of the Polar Bear Club, and they literally do this for
fun, all the time.
I'm cold inside just THINKING about doing this, but what it DOES to your body… is
pretty damn cool; no pun intended.
Physiologically, the human body thinks of anything below 70 degrees as a "cold" temperature;
we evolved in Africa, cold isn't really part of our inherent biological programming.
So, when you jump into 40 degree (4.5 C) water, your body goes into cold shock response.
The body will constrict blood vessels at the surface of the skin, increase respiration
-- usually you'll see people gasping for air -- and a surge in heart rate.
There's no real danger, unless the swimmer has a heart condition.
Hypothermia isn't likely either; the core body temperature can maintain for a long while;
though arms and legs will become very cold.
You'd have to stay in the water for 30 minutes before you'd need to worry.
Winter swimming isn't just a novelty practice to shock the system.
There are actual scientific benefits.
In Northern Europe, plunging into icy cold water is considered a stress reliever, usually
after a period in a sauna.
A study in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health found an improvement of general well-being
versus a control group.
They followed two groups of people over a winter season, after four months, the people
who participated in winter swimming "felt themselves to be more energetic, active and
brisk" but also reported a relief of pains from rheumatism, fibromyalgia, and asthma!
Reports from people who participate in the annual Coney Island dip report feeling invigorated
and relaxed after the experience -- this is due to the adrenaline and stress hormone release
in response to the cold shock.
It's essentially triggering your fight-or-flight response, but not following up with any danger
-- this results in temporary euphoria!
Another peer-reviewed study in QJM found people who participate in regular winter swimming
experienced oxidative stress, which caused their bodies to increase their natural antioxidant
levels!
Even further studies found winter swimmers have stronger circulation and a 40 percent
reduction in infections of the respiratory system!
Just by taking a dip in cold water.
When I was a kid, I would sit in the sauna for 10 minutes and then jump in the cold pool…
My mother always said it was good for the skin, but I couldn't find any solid evidence
of it.
It was a great feeling though!
Chances are it felt great because of a moderate cold shock response, thanks, Mom!
Would you do a polar bear swim?