Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. Enter the humble ice cube. Not only is it a summer must for your drinks, but ice has some incredible health benefits for your whole body. As an added bonus, it’s cheap, easy to make, and accessible to just about everyone.
What are the Health Benefits of Ice?
Ice Facials
This is a fantastic, easy way to give your face a total revitalising treatment. The easiest and most comfortable way to give yourself an ice facial is to put a large bowl of water in the fridge for a few hours and then dip your face into it for 10 to 30 seconds at a time.
Another method is to wrap an ice cube in a soft cloth and massage your face with it gently. Include all parts of your face; from your jaw and chin to your forehead, nose and lips.
The ice block or ice water causes collagen and blood to come to the surface of the skin, which improves the overall look and health of your face.
The benefits of ice facials:
- Firms skin and gives it a healthy glow.
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines.
- Reduces puffiness, including around the eyes.
- Lessens inflammation and spider veins.
- Minimises the appearance of big pores.
- Reduces oil.
- Soothes irritated skin.
- Reduces pimples and acne.
- Lightens dark circles under your eyes.
Wash your face well before dipping it in the ice and follow your ice facial with a good moisturiser. If you opt for a massage with an ice block, don’t hold the ice on any spot for very long. Move purposefully.
Ice Baths and Cold Swims
An ice bath may sound a bit extreme, so a cold swim is probably an easier way to ease into it. But, there is no doubt that spending just 30 seconds to a few minutes in icy water has massive benefits for your body.
To get used to cold water, simply switch your shower to cold at the end of a warm wash. Stand there for at least 30 seconds, breathing deeply as you get used to the change. As you get more and more accustomed to the refreshing thrill of the cold water, spend longer under it. Do this every day. If possible, have a cold bath every so often too, even adding bags of ice to the water to give it that extra chill. This will take a while to work up to.
Make it a goal to get into cold water every single day – whether you go for a dip in the ocean or simply make your shower cold.
This has a wide variety of benefits. One of the most significant reasons for this is that, as your body goes into ice water, the blood rushes to your organs to protect them. Here, the blood is enriched with oxygen and nutrients. The longer you’re in the cold water, the longer the blood is exposed to these valuable resources. As you get out of the water, the blood rushes to your muscles, skin, nerves and other tissues, carrying all this oxygen and these valuable nutrients with it.
As the blood vessels that contracted in the cold suddenly open up, they also transport waste more efficiently from our tissues.
The shock to the system as well as the focus that it can sometimes require has been invaluable to those suffering from overwhelming anxiety and depression. It redirects neural pathways in the mind, helping the person to jump off the treadmill of negative thinking as they focus for a short time on being cold and allow their system to be flooded with endorphins.
Benefits of cold swims or showers:
- Boosts the immune system and helps to fight against auto-immune issues.
- Helps to reduce the pain and discomfort of chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Boosts the metabolism, aiding in the maintenance of a healthy weight.
- Soothes inflammation.
- Helps to fight anxiety and depression as endorphins flood your system.
- Improves circulation of blood and lymph.
- Ups libido by increasing the body’s production of oestrogen and testosterone.
- Boosts your central nervous system, which combats fatigue and makes you feel sharper and more alert.
It’s a great idea to get into the routine of getting into cold water every day by starting your morning ritual in summer. Within just a few days, you’ll begin to crave that icy feeling and the exhilaration that it causes.
Drinking Ice Water
If full submersion is still a bit much for you, there are advantages to drinking water with ice in it too. Of course, there are also some drawbacks – some research indicates that ice-cold water may create thicker mucous in your nasal passages, for example; and it tends to exacerbate a migraine.
But, there are plusses too. Advantages of drinking ice water:
- It helps to keep you cooler and less dehydrated in extreme heat or while exercising.
- Any water helps to detoxify the body, and ice water is no exception.
- Drinking cold water boosts your metabolism, aiding in weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight.
Your Wellness
We love natural, simple ways to care for your mind and body. Ice and ice water are fantastic ways to boost your system and to equip your body to fight stress, inflammation and pain. Taking added supplements to support your body’s ability to work optimally is another proactive way that you can care for yourself without too much effort or cost. These are some fantastic supplements for all-round health and vitality:
Organamin – with its 74 minerals and trace elements that are particularly easily absorbed, this supplement does an incredible job of providing what you need to be strong and healthy. It has an impressive array of benefits; ranging from boosting hair and nail growth, reducing inflammation and joint pain, and preventing osteoporosis to aiding in better sleep and improving digestion.
Vitamin D3 or Quadri Mune – Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a vitamin and has countless benefits. If you can’t get 20 to 30 minutes of sunshine on your chest, back and legs every day, these supplements are musts. Vitamin D3 is an incredible immune booster, increases bone density, protects against diabetes and heart disease, fights inflammation and acidity in the body, and is an important defence against depression and anxiety. Quadri Mune combines this powerful substance with Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium, and more than 70 other minerals.
Rewind Toxin Removal System – we can feel like we’re fighting a losing battle when we’re constantly trying to juggle pesticides, heavy metals, GMO’s…Toxins can make us really sick or prevent us from combating mental and physical issues. This tasteless toxin removal complex is amazing in its effectiveness and results, and is perfect for the whole family.
To order these and many other valuable aids to keep your body and mind in tip-top shape, have a look at The Nordens Ultimate online shop or get hold of us via info@nordens.co.za or +27 72 621 7725.
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