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The thought of plunging into an ice bath and practicing deep breathing techniques may sound like hell to some.
The method – made famous by extreme athlete Wim Hof – promises to ‘unlock a host of benefits’, including reduced stress levels, a stronger immune system, increased energy, better sleep and increased focus.
Now scientists have taken a closer look at the benefits of the ‘ice man’ technique – and found that it actually appears to reduce inflammation.
The method – made famous by extreme athlete Wim Hof - promises to ‘unlock a host of benefits’ including reduced stress levels, a stronger immune system, increased energy, better sleep and increased focus
Researchers from the University of Warwick analyzed the results of eight different trials in the method.
They found that cold therapy and ice baths caused an increase in adrenaline levels, which may indirectly reduce inflammation.
Two studies also found significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory proteins in participants after they participated.
It is important to reduce inflammation in the body, as it can be linked to health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
The team said that reducing inflammation may benefit people who are sick, especially those with chronic inflammation, but also healthy people.
Researchers from the University of Warwick found that cold therapy and ice baths caused an increase in adrenaline levels, which can indirectly reduce inflammation
The effect of the Wim Hof method on exercise performance was less clear, as some studies showed a benefit while others found no significant difference.
While the results suggest the method may have physiological benefits, researchers stressed the need for more robust, confirmatory research before the method can be recommended given the small sample sizes and high risk of bias in current trials.
Writing in the journal Plos One, the team said: ‘The Wim Hof Method (WHM) is a lifestyle change that claims to improve a person’s quality of life, which consists of three pillars: the Wim Hof breathing method, cold therapy and commitment.
‘According to Wim Hof, the creator of this method, a combination of these three pillars strengthens a person’s autonomic nervous and immune system and thus strengthens a person’s health and mentality.
‘The results of this review suggest that the Wim Hof method can affect the reduction of inflammation in healthy and non-healthy participants.
“More research … is needed to substantiate this finding.”
Wim Hof holds 21 Guinness World Records for some of his remarkable human achievements, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro wearing shorts, swimming 66 meters under ice, standing for two hours in a container filled with ice cubes and running a half marathon across the Arctic Circle.