Ice Baths: What Are The Benefits and Which Celebs Are Taking The Plunge?

Ice baths, commonly used by athletes and fitness fanatics, are the new, super cool trend that celebrities are swearing by.

Kickstarted by Wim Hof, dubbed ‘The Iceman’, cold water immersion therapy is said to have a whole host of physical and mental benefits, including alleviating muscle aches and pains, and calming anxiety.

But which celebs are trying out the ‘Wim Hof Method’, and what are the benefits ice baths can offer you? Europe’s leading ice manufacturer, we take the plunge to find out more…

1. Ice baths can relax sore muscles

A common use for ice baths is to relieve intense muscle pain. In short, the chilly temperature of the water reduces the damage to the affected tissue and lowers the risk of further swelling.

Harry Styles is a devotee to the ice bath, ditching after-show parties to submerge himself in cold water as a form of recovery from performing. Harry Styles is no stranger to minus temperatures as he’s also a known fan of cold water swimming.

2. They can reduce stress

Kendall Jenner and AnnaLynne McCord have both flaunted their impressive endurance to take an ice bath on Instagram as an addition to their wellness journeys. The exposure to the cold paired with controlled breathing and meditation helps to manage anxiety and reduce stress levels.

3. Ice baths boost your immune system

Research has shown that people who have cold baths (strangely) catch fewer colds. This is all to do with the cold exposure resulting in an increase in white blood cells and natural killer (NK) cells which fight off infections.

4. They can help you lose weight

In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, ice baths can be a useful supplement to your weight loss journey. Cold exposure activates brown adipose tissue – also known as brown fat – which has the potential to work the body harder and therefore, lose more calories.

Cold water immersions also enhance the body’s response to insulin, which is the response responsible for regulating blood sugar levels – helpful for those with diabetes.

5. They get that blood pumping!

Fitness fanatic and Body Coach Joe Wicks,  is a huge fan of the cold water.

When taking an ice bath, the blood moves towards your organs to keep you warm, increasing your heart rate and elevating your respiratory rate.

Other celebs who have a penchant for an ice bath include David Beckham who uses them as a form of self-care and Emma Willis who practiced breathing control in the freezing temperatures.

There are some great benefits to using ice baths and while many people have been taking them for years, we think this will be a trend to stay!

For more great tips on how you can utilise your ice cubes, check out our TikTok and sign up to our newsletter to get all our latest news delivered straight to your inbox.

However, you don’t need to be a celeb, an athlete (or even harry styles) to feel the benefits of cold-water therapy – but you can join them! Are you ready to start your own ice bath journey? We’ve just launched our very own ice baths, that are now available to purchase online at The Ice Co shop and take the first step to improving your general well-being as well as boosting your immune system!