Wim Hof is pretty awesome. His nickname “The Iceman” probably has something to do with the fact he has climbed Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro… in just his shorts!!
Wim Hof challenges the scientific preconceptions of what the human body is capable of. Having attained roughly two dozen world records in conditions thought to be way too cold for humans, scientists were incited to study Wim Hof and his unique ability to expose himself to the elements.
The “Wim Hof Method” draws on Tibetan Timmo Meditation by shutting off activity in the mind and redirecting the metabolism into generating heat. The method also manipulates the hormone noradrenaline, which means his adrenaline allows him to overcome the cold.
Is Wim Hof Superhuman?
Researchers at the Wayne State University School of Medicine studied Hof using imaging techniques like PET scans, to look at his brain and body functions. Wim Hof wore a specially designed full-body suit which gave the researchers the ability to control the temperature around him. Through this they acquired essential data on the changes in his biology when exposed to the cold.
The results were pretty astonishing. They found that by practicing his technique, Hof’s skin temperature was generally unaffected by exposure to the cold.
“We observed more substantial differences in an area called periaqueductal grey matter, located in the upper brainstem. This area is associated with brain mechanisms for the control of sensory pain and is thought to implement this control through the release of opioids and cannabinoids”
You can watch a 40 minute vice documentary all about him here!
So, How Can We Benefit?
We’re not suggesting that we should all get naked and run a marathon in Finland like Wim Hof, but that being said, there are actually some serious health benefits to regular cold exposure.
Cold therapy has been used for hundreds of years in many different cultures and is today commonly used by top athletes. Cold therapy activates the body’s natural healing powers and lowers inflammation, which means when practiced regularly it can provide long lasting changes to your immune and digestive systems, as well as boosting your general health and wellbeing. So maybe sometimes replacing those steamy candlelit baths with ice cold showers could be a good shout.
Let’s take a look at some important benefits:
Improves Circulation
Exercise and diet are just two of the better known ways to improve circulation, but cold therapy is up there too. When you expose your body to extreme cold conditions the blood rushes to surround your vital organs which in turn means your heart is forced to pump more efficiently. Cardiovascular circulation is actually one of the most crucial components in our overall health and wellbeing.
Fights Inflammation
Have you ever noticed how we seem to shrink in the cold? Of course this is great when you’ve been indulging in cheese and wine all christmas, but not so great when you lose your favourite ring off your *suddenly three times smaller* finger. The cause of this is increased levels of adiponectin, a protein hormone that increases fat burning and helps prevent inflammation. Cold water also lowers damaged tissue’s temperature and constricts blood vessels. This helps reduce swelling, which is why we use ice on sports injuries.
Increases Lifespan
So, take this with a pinch of salt, as there’s yet to be a study on humans. However, studies on various insects have found pretty groundbreaking results on lifespans in colder climates.
A study on flies found that those kept at 21 degrees were living sometimes twice as long as those kept at 27 degrees! We think this could be down to the adaptation “hormesis” that makes animals stronger and more efficient if they are exposed to environmental stresses. Maybe we should rethink that move to sunny Ibiza!
Strengthens Nervous & Immune Systems
The autonomic nervous system was largely thought to be beyond conscious control before studies on Wim Hof. It’s now known that cold temperatures act as a mild workout for the nervous system, which adapts and strengthens as we expose ourselves to the elements. Cold therapy also causes your lymph vessels to contract, which in turn means lymph fluid is pumped throughout your body and flushes waste out of the area. The immune system’s white blood cells are then triggered to attack and destroy any unwanted substance in the fluid, ultimately keeping you healthier.
Fights Depression
Exposure to cold activates the sympathetic nervous system and increases the body’s levels of beta-endorphins and noradrenaline(natural opioid painkillers). The high density of cold receptors in the skin is also thought to send a vast amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain. This results in an antidepressant effect.
In fact a study in 2007 showed that cold showers could actually be more effective than antidepressants. The immediate mood lifting effect comes from an increase in dopamine, which has an uplifting effect on your mood!
Rests Temperature Regulating System
Are you someone who always feels hot or cold? Cold therapy can be a great way to reset your body’s temperature control. Due to external sources of heat such as central heating and warm clothing, many people in the modern world have actually lost the ability to keep themselves warm.
Cold showers can reset your body to heat itself up, you’ll be Wim Hof in no time!
How Can We Get Involved?
The Wim Hof method has gained a lot of attraction over the past couple of years and his online community is constantly growing with people from all around the world. On his website you can get involved by trying one of his free mini classes, enroll in an online course or even sign up for a trip with one of the instructors or Wim Hof himself!
You can also find lots of useful information about the Wim Hof method on Wim Hof’s Youtube Channel and if you are feeling brave, why not try the 20-day cold shower challenge?
