Cold Shower Benefits: Do Ice Baths Really Help You Lose Weight?

While weight loss is largely about what you eat and a change in lifestyle, the way you take a bath has also been scientifically proven to be effective. In his book titled “The 4-Hour Body,” Tim Ferriss said that taking ice baths can help burn calories faster.

The key is to take three ice baths per week, he said. Ferriss reportedly loads 20 pounds of ice into a tub of water and then he submerges his body in it, up to the waist, for 10 minutes. The goal is to force the body to try and get itself into its ideal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, so when the temperature goes down, it will burn calories as heat just to get back to its desired state.

He advised, however, that this is not something that should be done instantly, and that the body should be eased into the experience by first taking cold showers, then moving up to icepacks on the neck, and so on.

Another study seemed to back his findings. Scientists from the University of Nottingham found evidence that cold temperatures can change the type of fat that our bodies make into something that is more easily burned off. With the drop in temperature, stem cells reportedly make brown instead of white fat, which is what prompts the body to burn the extra calories.

Brown fat is also responsible for revving up the metabolic process and keeping the body warm. By harnessing the power of this type of fat, weight watchers and athletes are able to maintain their fitness goals, although it might not be as significant to help those who are overweight to shed pounds off.

In an article on Livestrong, however, there are plenty of risks that come with taking ice baths, so these should be done under close medical supervision. The immediate effect of cold temperatures from an ice bath can bring more harm than good to somebody who does not fully understand the process and plunges directly into the process. Hypothermia is one of the key risks, slowing reflexes, inducing fatigue and causing muscle weakness. As the body temperature continues to plunge, the heart function is affected and this could lead to heart failure.

Overall, the safest and surest way to lose weight is still via traditional means. That is, by eating the right types of food and getting enough exercise and rest. Lowering your body temperature might offer a weight loss advantage, but the results are not significant enough to risk it on your own. If you want to pursue this route, be sure to have a medical expert close by.