Winter has been rough in some parts of the country like Chicago, New York, and Boston. Fortunately, living in these freezing places has its advantages.
Cold therapy or cryotherapy is quickly gaining popularity; it translates as cold cure, where you step into a cold chamber colder than Antarctica. If you’ve ever taken a cold shower or a dip in a cold lake, it’s something similar to that—but 20 times colder!
When you take a cold shower, you know that the second that cold water runs down your spine it paralyzes your body. With cryotherapy the cold floods your brain, it shocks your body so much that you can’t relax. If you’ve experienced a Chicago winter with 30 below zero degrees, with cryotherapy you’re stepping into 200 below zero temperature. Many athletes with vigorous trainings undergo this type of therapy, which helps their body recover faster and promotes deeper sleep. It costs about $1,500 to rent a cryotherapy unit for one day, but for those of us that live in chilly weather and can’t afford it, we can get similar benefits for free.
Chilly Winter Weather—It has Its Benefits
- Reduces inflammation: Just like an ice pack, the cold temperature can reduce inflammation after a tough workout.
- Burns calories: Your body burns more calories during cold weather because it’s trying to keep your temperature at 98.6.
- Skin: The cold weather can dry your skin, but cold temperatures also wake up your blood vessels and even keep the puffiness from under your eyes away.
- Immune system and circulation: The cold shock from the cold can promote good circulation, lower blood pressure and improve your immune system.
- Sleep better: Cold weather makes you fall asleep quicker, which is why it’s good to keep your room at a cool 62 degrees.
NEXT: No More Workout Excuses With These Indoor Winter Workouts