To some, a cold plunge feels like a fate worthy of fright—immersing yourself into water so cold you gasp for air as your heart races—but as many health-conscious Americans have recently discovered, a few minutes of discomfort can create a holistically healthier life.

Contrast therapy, or alternating exposure to cold and hot temperatures via cold plunges and sauna sessions, has taken the wellness landscape by storm in recent years. As The Cut reports, celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Harry Styles have sung the energizing praises of ice baths, while videos of influencers lowering themselves into freezing tubs abound on TikTok and YouTube.

Internet popularity aside, health experts agree that immersing in cold water produces a variety of benefits. A study conducted by endocrinology specialists at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases found that exposure to cold water on an intermittent basis, which they defined as one to eight hours three times each week, may change or reduce the body’s fat tissues, contributing to reduced cholesterol and healthier blood sugar levels.

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