About the Guest(s):

Dr. Chad Woolner is a renowned expert in functional medicine, known for his innovative approach to wellness. He has vast experience working with diverse health modalities, integrating traditional and alternative methods to achieve optimal health outcomes for his clients. He co-hosts the "Simplified Functional Medicine Podcast," where he shares insights into various health therapies and wellness practices.

Dr. Andrew Wells is a celebrated chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner. He is an advocate for holistic health strategies that blend modern science with traditional wellness practices. As a co-host of the "Simplified Functional Medicine Podcast," Dr. Wells explores significant health trends and therapies that impact overall well-being.

Episode Summary:

In this intriguing episode of the "Simplified Functional Medicine Podcast," Dr. Chad Woolner and Dr. Andrew Wells address the heated debate surrounding cold immersion therapy, specifically in light of new findings indicating it could reduce muscle gains by as much as 60%. They dissect the study's details, emphasizing that the therapy isn't fundamentally flawed but may be misutilized. Cold immersion, known for its vast health benefits, comes under scrutiny and the hosts provide a balanced perspective on how it fits into a larger regimen of holistic health practices.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Woolner and Dr. Wells delve into the nuances of cold immersion therapy, emphasizing the importance of timing and technique to maximize benefits while minimizing any adverse effects on muscle development. They argue that, when used appropriately and safely, cold therapy can enhance mental and emotional health, making it a valuable tool even amidst recent controversies. The episode expands on potential inaccuracies in clickbait headlines and stresses the significance of contextual understanding in practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Cold immersion therapy's benefits are significant but depend on correct usage, particularly timing relative to workouts.
• Recent studies show that post-workout cold immersion can hinder muscle growth but highlight the importance of inflammation in hypertrophy.
• Personal experiences and mental challenges in handling cold therapy can be beneficial for mental toughness and productivity.
• Hormetic stressors, like cold immersion, when used correctly, can enhance overall health and wellness by regulating bodily stress responses.
• The ongoing clickbait frenzy around health trends necessitates a more informed, careful approach to adopting wellness practices.

Notable Quotes:

• "Cold immersion therapy isn't broken. It's just being misused in some instances." — Dr. Chad Woolner.
• "You can still keep doing ice baths… nothing changes in terms of the health benefits." — Dr. Chad Woolner.
• "Sometimes too much of a hormetic stress can be a bad thing." — Dr. Andrew Wells.
• "You do want and need some inflammation post hypertrophy training." — Dr. Chad Woolner.
• "It's the difficultness of it… that you can consider mental toughness training." — Dr. Andrew Wells.

Resources:

• Journal of Physiology - The journal where the mentioned study was published.
• Anna Lembke's Book: "Dopamine Nation" - Referenced by Dr. Chad Woolner for deeper understanding.
• Ice Barrel: Mentioned by Dr. Andrew Wells as a recommendation for those interested in trying cold immersion therapy.

Listeners are invited to experience the full episode for a comprehensive discussion and keep an eye out for future podcasts that unravel popular health trends into actionable insights. Stay tuned to "Simplified Functional Medicine Podcast" for more valuable content.