Devin Alexander

Women… before you jump into that ice bath, read this. 🧊

Most cold plunge research was actually done on men. New research suggests women’s bodies can respond differently to extreme cold.

For some women, very cold water can:
• Spike cortisol (stress hormone)
• Disrupt sleep or increase anxiety
• Interfere with hormones, especially in the luteal phase

Even recovery benefits may not be the same for women as they are for men.
Experts like Dr. Stacy Sims and Dr. Susanna Søberg suggest women may benefit more from shorter, less extreme cold exposure instead of the viral 5–10 minute ice baths.

Bottom line: If cold plunges make you feel amazing, great. But if you feel exhausted, wired, or off… your body might be telling you something.