Time of Day When Taking an Ice Bath: It Matters
Recently, a rise in health- and wellness-related trends has occurred. One activity, ice baths, have spearheaded this movement, and for good reason. Whether you believe in ice baths or not, one cannot deny the idea of submerging oneself in a frigid body of water will shock you awake in the morning. While ice baths are most frequently practiced in the morning, researchers question whether the morning is really the best time to do ice baths?
What do ice baths do?
Ice baths have been linked to decreased inflammation and help speed up short-term muscle recovery. However, this study examines how the time of day that an individual ice baths affects their body, with specific attention on hormone levels. Hormones are chemical messengers released by your body into the bloodstream to tell different parts of your body what to do. Researchers in this study measured hormone and lipidome responses when ice baths were taken in the morning versus at night. Lipidome response is when your body changes what type of fats or amount of fats that are in your blood stream.
What do ice baths do?
Ice baths have been linked to decreased inflammation and help speed up short-term muscle recovery. However, this study examines how the time of day that an individual ice baths affects their body, with specific attention on hormone levels. Hormones are chemical messengers released by your body into the bloodstream to tell different parts of your body what to do. Researchers in this study measured hormone and lipidome responses when ice baths were taken in the morning versus at night. Lipidome response is when your body changes what type of fats or amount of fats that are in your blood stream.
Ice baths have more benefits than you may realize.
Image Source: Paulina Herpel
Does time matter?
The study revealed that ice baths taken in the morning cause hormones to send out a message telling the body to release plasma fatty acids which are fat cells. The study then showed lipidomes responding to this message and increasing the amount of fat cells in the blood stream. When an increase of plasma fatty acids, or fat, in the bloodstream occurs, your body pulls stored fat into the bloodstream. Meaning, there is more fat readily available to use as energy. This response was not seen in evening ice baths. There was no mentionable response in any other hormone in the morning or evening. Therefore, the benefit of a daily ice bath in the morning is that there is more fat available to burn, which provides your body with more fuel to use throughout your day or during your morning workout.
At the end of the day, ice bath whenever it makes you feel your best! Ice baths in the morning can lead to an energy spike, but it can also be tough to get up and jump in a cold body of water. Don't let an article stop you from your nightly ice bath if that's more manageable.
The study revealed that ice baths taken in the morning cause hormones to send out a message telling the body to release plasma fatty acids which are fat cells. The study then showed lipidomes responding to this message and increasing the amount of fat cells in the blood stream. When an increase of plasma fatty acids, or fat, in the bloodstream occurs, your body pulls stored fat into the bloodstream. Meaning, there is more fat readily available to use as energy. This response was not seen in evening ice baths. There was no mentionable response in any other hormone in the morning or evening. Therefore, the benefit of a daily ice bath in the morning is that there is more fat available to burn, which provides your body with more fuel to use throughout your day or during your morning workout.
At the end of the day, ice bath whenever it makes you feel your best! Ice baths in the morning can lead to an energy spike, but it can also be tough to get up and jump in a cold body of water. Don't let an article stop you from your nightly ice bath if that's more manageable.
Featured Image Source: Gin Majka
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