If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve likely come across the growing trend of . Celebrities and fitness trainers are immersing themselves in tubs filled with freezing water and floating ice cubes, claiming a variety of health benefits, including increased longevity. A new review published in Harefuah, the journal of the Israel Medical Association, conducted by Prof.
Yuval Halpern, a physiology expert, and Dr. Eilat Shahar, a specialist in internal medicine, seeks to clarify this phenomenon. Cold water immersion has deep historical roots.
As early as the 5th century BCE, Hippocrates recognized a link between immersion in water at varying temperatures and the health of both body and mind. The practice of ice water immersion is also rooted in Eastern European traditions, where it merges with Christian religious rituals believed to be therapeutic. In recent years, the practice has gained popularity, with individuals and organized groups combining it with meditation, breathing exercises, and swimming.
However, no official framework currently establishes standards, training, or risk management for this activity. According to Prof. Halpern and Dr.
Shahar, the belief in the physical and mental benefits of cold exposure has persisted for thousands of years. Studies on cold-water swimmers have shown improvements in cold tolerance, mental resilience, antioxidant activity, blood pressure, lipid profiles, immune system function, and cardiovascular health..