Poland is crazy about sea! Until a few years ago, immersing the body in icy water was the hobby of a few. Today there is no shortage of bathing enthusiasts. Is seawater healthy? What are the advantages? Who can and who shouldn’t sail? Marek Matacz from PAP’s Health Service is answered by prof. dr hab. Ewa Ziemann, professor of medical sciences and health sciences, researcher at AWF Poznań.
- It’s scientifically proven that cold can have a positive effect on the body
- Prof. Ziemann explains who can particularly benefit from swimming in ice-cold water
- The expert also tells if there is an age limit after which it is better to let go
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Marek Matacz, Zdrowie.pap.pl: From the point of view of caring for health, the so-called sea water actually makes sense or is it just a fad?
Prof. dr hab. Eva Ziemann: It makes perfect sense. In the scientific literature, it is well documented, inter alia, anti-inflammatory effect of cold. It reduces inflammation mainly in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but also has an effect on the reduction of the systemic, so-called. low chronic inflammation caused e.g. by obesity.
The beneficial effects of cold affect the proteins released into the bloodstream by adipose tissue (mainly visceral – abdominal), but also proteins known as “myokines”, which are proteins released by skeletal muscles. I have considerable experience in studying the effects of cold on the body, although it was not sea water. Nevertheless, the cold continues to surprise me positively.
How does it work on the body?
Chronic low-system inflammation caused by excess body fat can lead to the development of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, vascular endothelium, insulin resistance and, consequently, type II diabetes. In obese people, the visceral or abdominal fat releases a lot of proteins that intensify this condition (although there are exceptions). The cold reduces their production. An overweight or obese person with the help of sea salt can reduce harmful inflammation and thus reduce the risk of developing serious diseases.
What’s more, it turns out that low temperature can stimulate the release of proteins that turn white fat into brown. It has the property (thanks to the mitochondria and the uncoupling protein) that instead of storing fat, it transforms it and, consequently, produces a lot of heat. Until recently, it was believed that brown adipose tissue only occurs in children. Thanks to new research methods, we know that it also occurs in adults and that there are factors that can cause “browning” of white adipose tissue.
It must be added here that physical activity can also cause a “browning” effect. Unfortunately, these are not changes forever – if we are inactive or do not give in to the cold, everything returns to where it started.
Does this mean that slim people will not benefit from sea water?
It’s more complicated. Thin people are commonly considered healthier, but this may be a misconception. We can deal with fat hidden inside the body. For a long time there has been talk of a “pear” or “apple” structure, and recently the term “toffee” has appeared, that is, slim but “fat” in the middle of the body.
Another thing is the amount of muscle tissue. While fat secretes pro-inflammatory proteins, the muscles, on the contrary, produce proteins that protect against inflammation, most of which are anti-inflammatory. As the body cools down, the muscles try to radiate heat through the tremors, which increases the production of beneficial proteins. Thus, the more muscles there are, the more protective proteins are formed.
Walruses, however, most often say that they catch colds less often. So does the immune system also improve?
There is no unequivocal documented scientific evidence showing the influence of sea salt on the immune system, although resistance to colds is probably increasing. We should also remember that people at sea are usually people who also take care of their health in other areas. What matters is, among others, exercise, diet, resistance to stress. I wouldn’t say that sea water is a panacea here, but rather that it can be one of the elements that help keep the body healthy.
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Who can use marine?
In fact, almost everyone – scientific recommendations indicate that even children from 3 years of age. Contraindications include cardiovascular failure, epilepsy, and some other chronic diseases.
Including Lyme disease.
Lyme disease can also be a contraindication. It has a multifaceted effect on the body. Doctors already know how to reduce its effects, but its course can still be surprising. It should be remembered that swimming is a strong stimulus, although it lasts relatively shortly. That is why it never gives completely predictable reactions. So there may be an unexpected result sometimes.
- The cryotherapy treatment is available at medonetmarket.pl
Is there an upper age limit?
In my opinion, it depends on the condition of the person. Many a seventy-year-old is in better shape than a sitting thirty-year-old. Seniors can really amaze. I conducted research with the participation of people from this age group. One eighty-year-old lady was a Nordic walking champion in her age category. It would be difficult to keep up with her during training, let alone say that, for example, she can’t sea.
Are cold baths very different from treatments in a cryochamber?
In Poland, cryochamber is relatively popular. There is even talk of the Polish school of cryotherapy. I would say that the effect of bathing is stronger because water cools down more because of its physical properties than even very cold air. The effect on the skin may be more noticeable in the cryochamber, but the bath will have a stronger effect on the whole body.
Meanwhile, some people recommend sea water, even if you have a mild cold. This would help you recover. What do you think about that?
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. Perhaps it would work for someone with a lot of experience, but for most people such recommendations can do more harm than good in my opinion.
And what can people who are far from the sea, lake and cryo-chamber and would like to enjoy the benefits of cold do?
You can also take cold showers or baths. Also, as in the case of swimming in the sea or any other body of water, it must be done carefully, i.e. cool down, starting from the legs, towards the heart. You should also try to calmly and steadily breathe all the time. Sometimes people stop breathing. This is a natural reaction, but it can be dangerous. In some extreme cases, it may even lead to cardiac arrest.
So can you start sailing yourself?
Better to do it with someone experienced who knows it. I would advise you to avoid the so-called trainers with poorly documented competences. It is also good to consult a doctor before starting your adventure with sea.
What about the athletes?
Mulling is quite popular among them. In the past, I looked after the staff of the Polish Tennis Association and very often during training camps we used morning cold baths with both young people and seniors. There have never been problems, even among those who did it for the first time. Another thing is to combine cold therapy with training. Here, however, you need to have a lot of knowledge. These treatments help regenerate, but sometimes they can, unfortunately, eliminate the effects of training and reduce adaptive changes.
Interviewed by Marek Matacz, Zdrowie.pap.pl / Serwis Zdrowie
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