We Take the Plunge on Cold Water Therapy

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 14 February 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Cold water therapy has been around for a long time, as part of spiritual traditions and physical recovery programs for athletes. But a commercialized version known as “cold plunging” has become the latest wellness craze. Enthusiasts who embrace it as a daily practice say it has benefits ranging from boosting immunity to combating depression and improving sleep. But are these claims backed by science? We talk about what’s driving the urge to plunge and how to do it safely, and we’ll hear from you: Have you tried cold water therapy? Has it worked for you? Guests: Charlie Warzel, staff writer, The Atlantic; author, "Galaxy Brain" a newsletter about the internet and big ideas. Dr. Mark Harper, anesthesiologist; researcher; author, "Chill: The Cold Water Swim Cure"; co-creator, Chill UK - a nonprofit committed to providing courses in cold-water swimming to improve mental health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho LaPuerta, a health resort with 85 years of wellness experience, providing summer vacations centered on well-being. Special rates on three-and-four-night August vacations include sunrise hikes, water classes, yoga, and spa therapies, all set in a backdrop of a dreamy summer sky. A six-acre organic garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
0:24.0	Learn more at Ranchoer Tuerta.com.
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0:45.3	... From KUED in San Francisco, happy Valentine's Day.
1:03.0	I'm Nina Kim. Coming up on forum, we take the plunge into the wellness trend known as cold plunging.
1:10.0	While cold water therapy has long been part of traditions across many cultures,
1:14.6	for some reason the idea of immersing yourself in water well below 60 degrees has really taken hold lately.
1:21.7	It's become a mini industry fueled by influencers and fitness gurus and some doctors
1:26.5	who say it boosts energy, lifts
1:28.8	depression, improves sleep, and more. We take a closer look at the supposed benefits and
1:34.5	risks of cold plunging and hear whether you've tried it. Join us.
1:51.6	I'm Nina Kim. Welcome to Forum. Have you seen ads for tubs designed for cold plunging on social media?
1:58.9	Or any of the videos from influencers like Wim Hof promoting the therapeutic benefits of being neck high in frigid water?
	...

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