31/03/2022
Bring on the cold
Posted • New video! Cold-water immersion produces beneficial brain & metabolic effects that converge on norepinephrine, a neuroendocrine hormone boosted from cold that increases mitochondrial biogenesis.
Just 20 seconds in very cold water can boost it 2-fold!
Cold exposure increases the growth of new mitochondria in adipose tissue and also in muscle tissue. This can have effects on metabolism and endurance.
Norepinephrine is also a neurotransmitter in the brain and animal studies have found that cold exposure also increases the release of norepinephrine from the locus coeruleus region of the brain.
In the brain, norepinephrine is involved in vigilance, focus, attention, and mood. Low levels are associated with decreased attention, cognitive ability, energy, and poor mood. Norepinephrine depletion may even lead to depression.
I highly recommend to check out this short 9-minute video on some of the benefits of cold water immersion and cryotherapy! You can find it on the FoundMyFitness YouTube channel.
