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Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

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Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#51
post #41
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without having to listen to 4 hours of podcasts, what was their take?

I haven't listened to them but can recommend the Medlife Crisis episode [0], in which he reviews the scientific literature around the effects of cold exposure, blood oxygenation/acidity from hyper-/hypoventilation, and related topics. He comes to the conclusion that Wim Hof is likely a genetic outlier, but that breathing techniques can have real physiological effects on things like pain perception, and that cold expo…

He's taken people up mountains in -15 C wearing just shorts after a few days of training. So I'm not sure it's just him being unique.

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#52
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Processed carbohydrates are harmful, however sugar is particularly harmful in its effects on the hormonal system, insulin resistance, concentration, dental decay (and tooth growth in children), psychology of child, irratibility etc. Humans are simply not designed to consume such vast amounts of industrial grade sugar in such quantities. You can literally throw sugar canes into a juicing machine and it has less sugar…

Have any good reads (articles/books) on the harmfulness of sugar? It sounds interesting to read about, but Google gives a billion results.

Here are some more mainstream sources. All "official" output on these subjects are heavily regulated and lobbied by corporate interests however. Further problem is that western culture is far too heavily empirical, whereas axiomatic/rationalist viewpoints on nutrition are often true and logical - it's just that nobody has paid the $$$ to "prove" them in a non-replicable study. However, my axiomatic broscience is frowned upon in the empiricist cult of the silicon valley so I have only linked to fairly establishment sources here. Still good for the basics

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tooth-decay/

"Tooth decay is damage to a tooth caused by dental plaque turning sugars into acid."

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts/sugar

https://www.health.com/condition/type-2-diabetes/high-blood-...

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#53

When a friend first told me about taking cold showers everyday, I thought he was incredibly motivated and a little crazy. Then when I finally decided to look into it and did the breathing technique, I realized I might be able to take a cold shower. Now I've been taking 1-2min cold showers (after my regular hot shower), every day for the last 4 months. It gives me a huge boost of energy, way better than coffee. Also,…

>Also, I recently read a translation and comment of the first speech by Buddha after enlightment.

It's enlightenment.

Interesting; got a link?

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#54
post #37

When a friend first told me about taking cold showers everyday, I thought he was incredibly motivated and a little crazy. Then when I finally decided to look into it and did the breathing technique, I realized I might be able to take a cold shower. Now I've been taking 1-2min cold showers (after my regular hot shower), every day for the last 4 months. It gives me a huge boost of energy, way better than coffee. Also,…

When you wrote 'way better than coffee', I had to think of my favourite morning routine: getting up and going straight to work on my bicycle. In winter this gives me a sort of freshness shock that may be similar to the cold shower. There's nothing quite like it in terms of waking up: indeed it's better than coffee.

I agree except when I bike an hour to work at -10f I actually need a few minutes for my brain to defrost before I'm even capable of having a conversation. I'm not sure why, it's like everything I didn't exercise is stiff and needs to thaw out. Feels fuckin great though do recommend!

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US obesity epidemic probably has more to do with the sugar content of processed foods than with laziness. As you note, people in general are lazy. Vietnam has the lowest rate of adult obesity yet is the 8th most sedentary population in the world.

thats nonsense. The slimmest and fittest I ever was, was when I ate the most processed food in my life. I was cycling from my hometown in bavaria to nice in france. So I just had to eat all this garbage from the supermarket but it got burned immediatly. Funny that he gets downvoted he expressed his point in a very friendly way. I will just say it plainly: fat people are lazy. thats the reason they are fat. You can ea…

> fat people are lazy. thats the reason they are fat.

Probably, but not vice versa (I'm not). So you need to be lazy and eat a lot of garbage to become obese.

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#56
Ah Wim Hof, reminds me of my friend that had to fight crippling depression.(and still is fighting) He found out about the cold shower, breathing technique from Win Hof, and started practicing it.

What worked better than cold shower was Ice bath in the frozen lake. I were very skeptical at the practice first but oh boy, the sudden freezing shock really do wake some survival instinct inside you out, and your mind becomes really sharp. Until you keep doing it to a point of dizziness reminiscent of certain highs. If you are going to try cold shower, ice lake bath with sauna is also a experience worth trying out!

It didn't help him get out of depression, but sure did energize him more for a brief period of time in his life. (until his routine collapsed)

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#58
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe there's a low-calorie treatment pioneered by a research group out of Oxford University a few years ago. The treatment was shown to send type II into remission. It's currently available on the NHS in the UK: https://www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/treatment-care/low-calor...

>The treatment was shown to send type II into remission. Does that mean the same as cured? Edit: The linked article says: >and even achieve remission (no longer have diabetes)

Not an expert on this, but remission is defined as:

> a temporary diminution of the severity of disease or pain.

My understanding is that after the treatment, and while in remission, people would need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid relapse. It's still early days for this treatment so I'd guess that they're being cautious with their language.

Re: Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges

#59
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't listened to them but can recommend the Medlife Crisis episode [0], in which he reviews the scientific literature around the effects of cold exposure, blood oxygenation/acidity from hyper-/hypoventilation, and related topics. He comes to the conclusion that Wim Hof is likely a genetic outlier, but that breathing techniques can have real physiological effects on things like pain perception, and that cold expo…

He's taken people up mountains in -15 C wearing just shorts after a few days of training. So I'm not sure it's just him being unique.

Yes, and that is impressive! But he has also set several cold exposure world records that these people probably couldn't replicate that easily, or perhaps ever.
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