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Recently, researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK published a review article detailing the potential benefits of cold water therapy for human health. The study revealed that cold water therapy can not only improve physicalImmunity, it also helps burn fat and prolong life, providing a new option for people seeking a healthy lifestyle.

In China, people often say "drink more hot water" to treat various diseases, while cold water is often considered harmful. However, new research shows that cold water therapy actually has many health benefits, including improving immunity, promoting fat burning and extending life.

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Cold water therapy is a hydrotherapy technique that produces different physiological responses by partially or completely exposing the body to water that is lower than the normal temperature of the human body. Common cold water therapies include ice packs, drinking cold water, cold water showers, cold water immersion (CWI) and winter swimming.

Studies have found that lifespan can be extended by lowering the temperature. For example, cold water therapy can significantly extend the lifespan of cold-blooded organisms such as nematodes and fruit flies under low temperature conditions. For warm-blooded organisms, when the body temperature is reduced by 0.3-0.5°C, the average lifespan of female mice can be extended by 20%, and the average lifespan of male mice can be extended by 12%. For humans, cold water therapy can promote lifespan extension through the following mechanisms:

• Improve mitochondrial efficiency: Cold water therapy can improve the efficiency of mitochondria and induce mild oxidative stress, thereby enhancing the antioxidant capacity of cells and reducing cellular damage associated with aging.

• Reducing chronic inflammation: Cold water therapy can reduce exercise-induced muscle damage, inflammation, and soreness, and regulate the inflammatory process associated with aging by stimulating white blood cells and T cells, triggering an anti-inflammatory response.

• Enhance cell autophagy: Cold water therapy can enhance cell autophagy and promote the recovery of damaged cells and damagedproteinClear away and delay aging.

Cold water therapy can also improve cardiovascular health andmetabolismHealth, reduceCardiovascular diseasesandType 2 diabetesIn cold water below 14°C, the body'sMetabolismCold water stimulates the production of norepinephrine, which increasesblood circulation, activate brownFattissue (BAT), thereby improving the body's metabolic level and enhancinginsulinsensitivity and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Cold water therapy also has a positive impact on brain health and can improve mood. Cold water stimulates the production of norepinephrine, which in turn triggers the release of beta-endorphin, an endogenous opioid that has analgesic and mood-enhancing effects. In addition, coldness stimulates the release of dopamine, which helps regulate mood and enhance feelings of pleasure.

Compared with simple cold water therapy, alternating hot and cold water therapy has better effects. For example, the Scottish shower (alternating hot and cold water shower) has been used by the famous NBA player LeBron James as one of his body maintenance secrets. Alternating hot and cold exposure helps improve blood circulation, ensuring that nutrients and oxygen are effectively delivered to cells throughout the body, while also helping muscle recovery and relieving pain.

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In summary, cold water therapy can not only improve the body's immunity, but also help burn fat and prolong life. It is also beneficial to cardiovascular health and metabolic health, and can improve emotional state. Through proper cold water therapy, people can not only improve their physical health, but also enjoy a better mental state. However, it should be noted that the practice of cold water therapy should be carried out under the guidance of professionals to ensure safety and effectiveness.