93: Does Cold Plunging Make You Die Sooner?

Michael Kummer: The other day, someone told me that a researcher from the Mayo Clinic told him that jumping into a cold plunge causes the same release of chemicals in the body as when you are dying. So in other words, the only time the body releases that chemical cocktail that you experience when you jump into a cold blanc is when you are dying.

And we only have so many near death experiences in us before we fall apart. Ergo cold plunging is terrible for your health because you die a little bit every time you do it. And when I heard that, I'm like, what a load of crap for so many reasons. And. You know, the, the other, I guess, nuance to that discussion was, it actually started with saying that that researcher from the Mayo Clinic who shall remain unnamed, not because to protect his identity, but because I think that guy's an idiot.

And I didn't bother remember his name, uh, but the guy said there is no credible scientific evidence that cold plunging has any benefits. And then, you know, on the flip side, he said, well, and it's actually very bad for you because you go through a near death experience. And I'm like, how stupid can someone be with, have a brain from, not my body who told me that, but that researcher from the Mayo Clinic.

And I'm like,

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That person has probably taken only warm showers or hot showers all of his life, not knowing anything about cold water exposure and what it truly does and how it makes you feel. Do you really think that every time I go into the cold plunge, I feel like I'm dying?

I. Now here is the thing. He, he, there is obviously a lot of, a lot of nuance. It cold plunging is obviously not the, the only thing you have to do that fixes all of your health issues. And it's, it's not a miracle thing by any stretch of the imagination, but there is plenty solid scientific evidence of what cold plunging does, what it triggers, and how that benefits us.

And again, going back to my own experience now, you know, if you, the first time I stepped into a cold plunge, I. With freezing temperatures was felt entirely different to when I do the same thing now. I don't mind getting into the cold. I'm not, I don't feel like I'm dying and I'm, I'm not falling apart. I'm not, I'm not losing it.

I'm not, you know, I'm not in full fight or flight mode. Why? I don't know what to do and my, my breathing is rapid and, and everything is falling apart. None of that is happening. I go in, it usually feels mildly to moderately uncomfortable, but that is it. I'm, I'm not dying. Now, here is one important aspect.

If you have never cold plunged before, if you have, if you have no experience dealing with very cold temperatures, then maybe doing your first cold plunge. In 33 degree cold water might not be advisable. You know, it, it depends on, you know, your biological sex. It depends on if you're a female at the time of the month.

There are many, many factors that impact your perception, how you perceive that cold, and how your body responds to that. So by all means, start with a temperature that's uncomfortable. That doesn't freak you out, you know, and you know, maybe one. And that really leads to, you know, an important aspect that what is cold plunging?

If I say, well, I cold plunge, and you cannot say cold plunging is bad, or cold plunging is good because what does cold plunging mean for you? What's temperature? How long do you stay in? You know, there are so many factors that ultimately determine the impact that cold plunge has on your body. So if you're new to cold plunging and you want to.

Experience the benefits. You know, maybe start with a temperature that's that's moderately uncomfortable, that you can stay in for a couple of minutes, but that doesn't freak you completely out. You know, where you feel like you have a panic attack. Like, you know, my wife, first time she did it, she jumped into my cold plunge, which was very cold and she freaked out.

That was probably too cold for her. Now, was she dying? Not really. Um, but regardless, so start with the temperature that's comfortable or that's uncomfortable, but not so uncomfortable that you freak out if you do that. Then you, you are nowhere near a death experience. I would argue that. No, not I, I would argue that science argues that you release the same.

Cocktail of hormones when you're on a rollercoaster or when you work out very intensively. There are so many, so many aspects in life where you release those hormones, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The other nuances or the other important aspect to that argument is, well, um, cold plunging is bad, period because it makes you feel like you're dying.

That assumes that you are not getting used to it. As I said initially, you very much get used to cold plunging. The way I feel now getting in is entirely different to how I felt the first time I did it or the first few times I did it. That really goes back to the concept of hormesis, of hormetic stressors, that if they don't kill you, they make you stronger and more resilient and.

Now if I go in, I feel, I feel okay. You know, it doesn't, it doesn't freak me out anymore because I got used to it. And everyone gets used to hard things. If you work out for the first time, you might be terribly sore. Well, guess what? If you continue doing that, you are less sore because you get used to it.

You build muscle, your body response to that stressor by making you stronger and more resilient. And that's really the whole idea of cold plunging, that you become more resilient and it's certainly not a near death experience. And. Well, the bottom line is it's really, it's really a, a very, it's very, it's a very stupid argument and from that guy, from the Mayo Clinic, and you know, here is the thing, regardless of what you think the science says or how you interpret the science, or if you believe there is science or there isn't one thing that you can very easily find out and verify yourself, you don't need a PhD to do that.

Start taking cold showers or start cold plunging and pay attention to how your body responds to cold in general, and you'll realize that suddenly if you can, if you do cold plunging, you feel less cold. When the environment around you is cold, you feel less terrible, you feel better, you feel more comfortable in cold temperatures, you feel more comfortable in stressful situations, you feel.

More in control of your sympathetic response by just breathing slowly through your nose, all of the things that you can practice in a cold plunge, and you suddenly feel like you know all of those benefits regardless of whether or not there are signs to prove them or not. And so I would argue that that guy from the Mayo Clinic.

Has probably never taken a fucking cold shower because if he had, he would realize that, guess what it for a cold shower for the first time feels terrible. If you do it every day, doesn't feel that terrible anymore. You get used to it and you suddenly feel more comfortable in the cold shower. And that then, you know, extends to, if it's cold outside and you go outside without a shirt, well guess what?

Suddenly you're not that cold anymore. Whereas before you might have frozen your butt off. So the bottom line really is. Cold plunging is certainly not terrible for your health. Can you overdo it? You can much with like anything else, just because a little bit of something is good and makes you stronger and more resilient doesn't mean more is always better.

You know, going into the cold plunge at temperatures that you are not used to yet or that you are absolutely not accustomed to, that make you freak out, that make you, you know, that induce, uh, an anxiety or panic attack and you do that every day in addition to. All of the stressors you're exposed to as part of your regular life is probably not a good thing.

Obviously, you know the same thing as running 10 miles every day is probably not a good thing for your joints or your heart or anything in between. And so you gotta be smart about it. But if you are smart about it, if you do cold plunging the way I do, the way my wife does, the way you know, our friends does, et cetera, there is nothing bad about that.

You're not gonna ruin your health. You're not gonna cause any, any damage. Quite the opposite is the case. And you can easily figure that out by just trying it, you know, it's everyone who's done it. Knows that core plunging gives them energy, it feels good. It might not feel good while you are in. It's also not terrible While you're in, it's uncomfortable, but you get out and you feel so much better for the rest of the day.

You know, you become more resilient. You suddenly get less sick in all of those benefits where we don't need signs to tell us that because we are seeing it. Every single day. And so don't be afraid of cold plunging. Don't listen to ask clowns like that guy from the Mayo Clinic who has no fucking idea of what it means to expose yourself to cold temperatures because he's been taking hot showers all of his life.

Just, you know, give it a try and see how you respond to it. Ultimately, the only thing that matters is how you respond to it, how you benefit from it, and not what science or anyone else, uh, tries to make you believe. And with that. We are gonna wrap up that rent. That I had to get out because it's been bugging me for weeks already, since I've heard that.

Um, and I'm probably gonna take a cold plunge now and ex and enjoy my near death experience in the cold water. Until next time, guys. Next week on the Primal Shift Podcast, we're calling out the most ridiculous health gadgets ever invented, like a Bluetooth fork that vibrates when you eat too fast, or AI smoothie makers with monthly subscriptions.

If you're tired of tech replacing common sense, don't miss this one. You'll enjoy it.