After a hard workout, athletes will take what they call an ice bath, cold-water immersion, or cold therapy. This is when they get into a tub of ice for a limited time. I know what you’re thinking – but they claim that this works well.
Even though this practice is sometimes frowned on by some people, it’s widely accepted by others, and those that love it claim that it helps to heal and rejuvenate their body. There is some science behind it. In 2018, an article came out from the Harvard Business Review that asked 3,000 volunteers to take a 30, 60 or 90 second cold shower in the morning. This was their findings:
This is the first high-level evidence showing that cold showers can benefit your health. People who took them for at least 30 seconds for one month called in sick 29% less than our control group — and 54% less if they also engaged in regular physical exercise.
This ice bath phenomena began in 2002 when marathon runner Paula Radcliffe won the 10,000m event at the European championships. She claimed that what helped to gain victory was her practice of ice baths.
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Who could forget the program “Cold As Balls,” where Kevin Hart interviews different celebrities as they soak in an ice bath.
If you are going to create your own ice bath experience, then it’s essential not to overdo it. Ice baths can be very dangerous, fatal even.
According to Wikipedia, ice baths can cause severe risks to your health. These risks include hypothermia, shock, and the possibility of sudden cardiac death.
I can understand the shock. I mean, you are getting into a tub of ice. This has to be a shock to your body in more ways than one.
It’s important to talk to your doctor before attempting this at home.
SETTING UP A TUB
If you are looking to create your ice bath in your home, then first, you’re going to need a tub.
There are a couple of options that may work for you, depending on your physical structure.
Some people have used an Inflatable Portable Bathtub to create an ice bath experence. Others have used a sizeable foldable bathtub.
There are serval options that are available on Amazon, and if you look around enough, you’re going to find the perfect one for you.
The one that I would suggest on Amazon is the Blue Inflatable, Portable, Foldable Soaking Bathtub. You can check out the best price by heading over to Amazon here.
The obvious answer to finding a tub is just using the one in your bath. This may not be an option for some people, but to others it may work just fine.
Also, people use different types of gear for ice baths. You can buy hats, socks , and other gear that protect important places on your body.
FILLING IT WITH WATER AND ICE
Your next step is to fill the bathtub with water. It’s imperative to fill the tub with the coldest water that you can get. The colder the water, the slower the ice will melt.
You fill your tub with water, add the ice, and you’re ready to soak.
You don’t need to add a ton of ice to your ice tub. Remember, it’s important not to overdo it.
Another excellent tool for your ice bath would be to purchase a thermometer and regulate the temperature. The water in your ice bath should be around 10-15 degrees Celsius (around 50-60 Fahrenheit).
THE BEST ICE MAKER FOR YOUR HOMEMADE ICE TUB
Next, you’ll need to fill the 25-gallon tub with ice. You probably don’t need 25 gallons of ice for your ice tub, 10 gallons of ice should probably do. Depending on how cold you like it, even 5 gallons of ice would probably work.
What ice maker would have the ability to make you this amount of ice?
A Large Portable Ice Maker
The best portable ice maker that’s available produces 48 pounds of ice each day. This would be about 5 gallons of ice every 24 hours. You could purchase freezer bags and bag the ice for future use. When you get 10 gallons of ice, use that for your ice bath.
If a portable ice maker is what you can afford, then I recommend you purchase the NewAir Portable Ice Maker ( Click here to get the best price and more information).
The next option would be either a commercial ice maker or an undercounter ice maker.
For an ice bath, 100 lbs of ice each day would be the right amount of ice. Depending on how many ice baths you have decided to take, 100 lbs of ice should be plenty.
There are two options for you that I believe would work well.
Euhomy Commercial Ice Maker
The first option would be the Euhomy Commercial Ice Maker, which produces 100 pounds of ice each day and stores 33 pounds of ice at one time. This is your best option if you’re looking for an ice maker that produces 100 pounds of ice, but don’t want to break the bank. It’s a budget ice maker but a solid offering.
This ice maker is made from good stainless steel panels, and could be used for more than creating ice baths. This ice maker is popular for small commercial businesses, but people use this unit in homes as well.
If you would like to learn more about this ice maker, then you can click here and read more about its features on Amazon.
Manitowoc QD-0272A
A more expensive choice would be the Manitowoc QD-0272A undercounter ice maker. It’s made to produce 280 pounds of ice, but it’s from the Manitowoc line, which has been a trusted line of ice makers for a long time. This ice maker isn’t just more money, it’s also larger.
What makes this ice maker perfect for ice baths is that it holds 100 pounds of ice at one time. This means that when the ice maker is full, you can just transfer right into your cold tub. If you would like to read more about this Manitowoc ice maker, then click here and head over to Amazon.
CONCLUSION
Athletes have been using cold therapy for years. The benefits have mixed results, but the popularity of it is probably just beginning.
It’s crucial to be safe and never overdo it.
Make sure that you let your body talk to you and always listen to the warning signs your body gives you.
Use one of these great ice makers if you want to create an ice bath in your home.
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