When cold weather arrives, you decide it’s time to put away your swim trunks and switch to other activities. Who could argue with that? After all, who could possibly expect to get anything positive out of swimming in frigid water? Better to wait until springtime.

However, despite this common line of thinking, cold water swimming is a popular activity throughout much of the world. Why would so many people subject themselves to such unpleasant conditions? Well, as it turns out, there are perfectly rational reasons for swimming in cold water. Here are five of the top potential benefits from doing the counterintuitive thing and jumping right in.

1) Improved Blood Circulation

When your body is exposed to cold temperatures, it compensates by increasing blood circulation to your internal organs. In turn, this increased circulation can have a couple of beneficial effects. First, it can improve your ability to purge toxins and other impurities from your bloodstream. It can also help your body acclimate to the effects of cold weather.

2) Better Immune Function

By plunging your body into cold water, you also help amp up your immune system. This effect is partly related to the increase in blood circulation. Since improved circulation helps you get rid of bloodborne toxins, it also helps reduce your exposure to immunity-related threats. What’s more, your immune system treats a sudden drop in temperature as a potential threat. It responds to this threat by increasing its baseline activity. The outcome for your health is greater resistance to contagious microorganisms and other possible dangers.

3) Mood Improvement

Cold water swimming can help boost your mood in more ways than one. To begin with, it can increase the output of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers and mood enhancers. This happens when your brain releases extra endorphins to counteract any potential shock caused by rapid immersion in frigid water. You may have heard of a “runner’s high.” The same basic effect happens here, just from different underlying causes.

Exposure to cold water can also help you feel less stressed. That’s true, in part, because the cold serves as a focus point and steers your mind away from stressful thoughts. In addition, recent studies have shown that cold water exposure may have a positive effect on depression symptoms.

 4) Improved Recovery From Strenuous Activity

If you’re a sports fan, you may know that pro athletes often take ice baths after games and strenuous workouts. There’s a seemingly obvious reason for this practice: pain relief. Cold is well-known for its ability to reduce inflammation and its associated discomfort.

However, cold water immersion provides an additional physical benefit. Namely, it can help reduce fatigue levels and the time required to recover from serious exertion. Research shows that athletes who take ice baths tend to recover quicker than those who don’t. You can cash in on this same outcome when you swim in cold water.

5) Increased Calorie Use and Weight Loss

This is another benefit related to the increase in blood circulation triggered by cold water swimming. To sustain a higher rate of blood flow, your heart must work harder and pump faster. Your body then uses this heightened cardiac output to help keep your internal temperature up. The end result is a higher level of calorie use for any given amount of swimming.

Take Proper Precautions

Despite all the potential pluses of cold water swimming, it’s simply not for everyone. Apart from any mental resistance to frigid water, there’s the real risk of overworking your cardiovascular system. If you don’t have any existing heart problems, you’re probably fine. However, people with known cardiac issues may want to find another wintertime activity. In either case, consult your doctor before you jump in. Also, remember that even the strongest swimmers can develop hypothermia if they stay in cold water for too long.

Swim with Us at Blue Buoy

Love swimming in warm weather? Don’t be afraid to keep going when colder temperatures strike. With reasonable precautions, you can reap the benefits of diving in during the fall and winter months. In addition to checking with your doctor, you can always seek advice from us here at Blue Buoy.