The most well-known advocate of ice bathing is Wim Hof, also known as the Ice Man. Born in 1959, the native Dutchman gives an extremely vital impression and has sparked a veritable cult around ice bathing with his Wim Hof Method. He claims to never get sick and swears by the positive effects of cold exposure. So, is cold an effective method for maintaining long-term health or even has a rejuvenating effect? To scientifically examine this, a brief foray into epigenetics is necessary. Simplified, each cell initially contains our DNA. Depending on whether it develops into a muscle, liver, or heart cell, specific genes of the DNA are turned off and not read. Reading occurs through an enzyme that forms a specific protein from the gene, essential for the development of a particular cell. This process results in the creation of specific cells from a particular gene pattern, known as the epigenome. This process occurs continuously, allowing the constant renewal of our cells over the years. Our body is thus renewed on a cellular level. However, as we age, this mechanism becomes slower and more error-prone. Molecules attach incorrectly, readable genes become deactivated, or vice versa. The epigenome contains misinformation, and there is either no or insufficient cell regeneration. Incorrect epigenomes can lead to cell deformities and, consequently, to cancer. Epigenome analysis can determine biological age. For example, epiAge determines age through a saliva sample with a slight deviation from the actual age, without disclosing the birthdate. The focus is on the biological age’s deviation from the true age. If we are biologically younger than our birthday indicates, there is a good chance of an extended health span. Epigenome changes are influenced by environmental factors. Nutrition, such as what, when, and how much we eat, as well as our lifestyle, including lack of sleep or high stress, can modulate our epigenome. Exposure to cold or insufficient food, as in fasting, seems to have a positive effect on the epigenome. The body goes into survival mode, which evidently has positive effects. CECAD in Cologne, focusing on aging research, has investigated this. It has been demonstrated using roundworms that their lifespan doubles when exposed to cold. Moreover, they not only lived longer but were also more agile and vital during that time. In another experiment, worms were enriched with proteins, similar to diseases like Huntington’s, where cells are paralyzed by the accumulation of harmful proteins. After exposure to cold, the worms’ immobility disappeared after a few days. They produced more of the PSME3 protein, known as the Longevity Gene, which cleaned the cells. Researchers replicated this effect with human cells in vitro using cold. Epigeneticists are convinced that cold has a positive influence on a cellular level and positively affects our epigenome. It seems to make sense to occasionally step out of one’s comfort zone and expose the body to biting cold. The healing power of cold is already known in traditional remedies. Cold compresses are used to reduce fever, and cold applications alleviate inflammation or swelling.
Cold showers have long been considered beneficial for the cardiovascular system. In the realm of biohackers, individuals attempting to significantly reduce their biological age below their chronological age using various methods, ice bathing is highly regarded. Ice bathing seems to be a highly probable method for promoting longevity.
