Is it true that you can speed up your metabolism by submersing in cold water? Do you think this is extreme?

Answer 1

yes it is true but exercise causes 30-50% more heat loss than does cold water immersion. cold water immersion was attempted decades ago for weight loss, very old info.

Answer 2

It's 'kind of' true, but it's also misleading.

'Metabolism' just means 'chemical reactions inside your body'. These reactions release energy, and some of it will escape, as heat.

Cold (water, air, hands) will cause your body to react, and the reaction involves 'metabolic effort'.

For example, 'goosebumps' are caused by a small muscle contracting to make each of your body hairs stand up ('pilimotor activity') and insulate you better. 'Shivering' is a rapid fluttering contraction in your major muscles. All of these muscles use energy; the more active they are, the more chemistry is going on, and the more heat is released.

A lot of 'metabolism' happens in your liver. If you get really cold, your liver will 'fire up' some unnecessary metabolic reactions, to release more heat.

Digesting the food you have just eaten, involves metabolic reactions, and your metabolic rate is raised while you are doing it. So is your body temperature.

Your overall 'metabolism' is completely under your control, because the muscles that move your body about ('voluntary muscles') are capable of doing more 'metabolism' than all of your other organs put together.

Immersing yourself in cold water to increase your metabolism IS extreme, because doing a few star jumps will increase it a lot more, and a lot more comfortably.

Answer 3

Your metabolism would probably speed up because of the energy it would take your body to stay warm and the energy used to shiver. I think this is extreme. If you drink cold water, the energy your body takes to warm it and digest it will burn calories. Perhaps this is a less extreme way to increase your metabolism.

Answer 4

You can also do it by eating small, regular meals every couple of hours and exercising. Its easier and a bit less extreme than suberging yourself in freezing water.

(By the way, for that to actually work, it has to be near or below freezing and you have to stay for about 5 minutes. You might be risking hypothermia.)

Answer 5

the only way youd be speeding it up is temporarily. not permanently. if you want to truly increse your metabolism take vitamin b complex vitamins 3 times a day with each meal. this NATURALLY increases your metabolism and if youre looking to burn extra calories walking and drinking cold cold water is great.

Answer 6

in order to really get a drastic caloric burn you would have to submerge in water so cold you could risk hypothermia. so yes, it is extreme. there are better ways such as a healthy, reduced calorie intake diet, drinking LOTS of water and exercise. also, making sure you get .8g-1g of protein per pound of your body weight will help speed up your metabolism. drinking lots of water will ensure that your liver will burn fat efficiently as well. when you are dehydrated your kidneys fail to excrete bodily toxins via urine. the toxins build up and eventually your liver starts trying to help get rid of them so it can't burn fat as efficiently as when you are completely hydrated. by completely hydrated i mean you are peeing pretty frequently and your pee is light yellow to colorless in appearance. 1-2 liters of water a day is what you should be getting...and water means water not soda, tea, coffee, milk, juice ect. cold water simply quickens gastric emptying so it gets to hydrating you faster. it doesn't actually speed up you metabolism because your body has to warm it up. it just gets warm by being inside your body.

Answer 7

Add more garlic into your diet...it also helps metabolism.

Answer 8

Yeah i think
Im really not sure
=p