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Brass Monkey®
Quintessential ice baths, plunges and chillers, hand-built in Britain for people who demand more.
The cold demands that we evolve
Ice Guide
The cold triggers our metabolism, our internal furnace, by releasing free form fatty acids (FFAs) and glucose. It also protects against insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes and atherosclerosis by inhibiting glucose production. The collaborative effects of vasodilation and vasoconstriction work together to switch our metabolism to fat burning mode.
Our immune system is influenced by multiple factors and is highly complex. In isolation, the benefits of cold water immersion are hard to measure. But several studies now link cold exposure to immune boosting benefits such as increased production of ‘killer T cells’ and lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell key to immune function.
We each have 70,000 miles of veins, arteries and capillaries moving blood around our bodies. For most, this great vascular tree is de-conditioned through lack of exposure to the big temperature changes it was designed to deal with. When we move between hot and cold, it gives those tiny muscles governing blood-flow a serious workout.
Regular cold water immersion drives wakefulness, alertness, learning and attention, enhanced memory formation and retrieval. It also supports top-down regulation of pain. It also increases dopamine by 250%, a natural ‘feel-good’ hit.
Whether it’s cold showers, ice cold dips in a lake, waterfalls, or a simple tub in the garden — we want to empower people to develop a safe, accessible and reliable cold contrast or cold water immersion practise. Resetting mind and body, feeling stronger and happier in just a few minutes per day. However you can do it, just get your cold on.
Before you read any further, it should be noted that the suggestions that follow detail physical challenges for advanced dippers only. Cold water is fun, but it’s not a game and should always be treated with respect. It’s a powerful tool that should be used with care. It’s no place for ego or competition.
This particular health benefit claim may have been popularised by a 2016 Dutch study where users of daily cold showers showed a reduction in self-reported sickness . Since then, there have been numerous studies showing that cold exposure, typically in winter ice swimmers, increases the plasma levels of a number of different immune cells. Quite simply, more immune cells in your blood is generally a good thing.
There are 7 trillion nerves in the human body. Like a complex network of wires they pass sensory information between the brain and every part of your body, turning information into actions, and helping to keep you alive.
To find out about upcoming Brass Monkey® events, across the country, click here.
