Fact checked by Nick Blackmer People swear by the health benefits of cold-water immersion—polar plunges, cold showers, and ice baths—but a new study found that the science is inconclusive ...

2. It might reduce sickness Though research is mixed, some experts have theorized that when you plunge yourself into cold water, your body’s leukocytes, the blood cells that fight infection, are ...

In addition, people who took 30-, 60- or 90-second cold showers for 30 days reported a slightly higher quality of life. But these effects faded after three months.

Cold water immersion is exactly what it sounds like—getting into cold water, typically below 59 degrees, for a short period. Some people do quick plunges, while others stay in for a few minutes.