Body fat comes in two types: white fat (which stores energy) and brown fat (which burns it). Cold activates brown fat, breaking down fatty acids to generate heat – a process called thermogenesis. The colder it gets, the more mitochondria switch on, so calorie burn can jump 30-50 % even after you step out of the ice.
Last night started like always: I hit the gym, finished my workout and, instead of a hot shower, decided to try the “ice trick” everyone’s talking about. I filled the tub, tossed in ice, checked the thermometer – 7 °C – hit “timer” and jumped in. First thirty seconds were shock, but after a minute my body flipped to “burn mode”: I felt warmer and my skin seemed tighter. I climbed out after two minutes – heart racing, mood sky-high.
Here’s what I learned:
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My body switched on brown fat – the kind that burns calories for heat;
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In those two minutes I torched ~150 kcal – the same as a 20-minute jog;
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My metabolism stayed elevated for two more hours – fat-burning kept going while I sat at my laptop. If I repeat this 3-4 times a week, that’s about 5 kg of fat gone in a year – no extra workouts or starvation.
So if you want a quick calorie furnace, skip the treadmill and take an ice bath. Bookmark it: 2 min, 7 °C, 150 kcal – and today you’re already lighter than yesterday!
