Dopamine “Fasting” for Longevity

Some of us may be familiar with the practice of ice bathing for longevity. Cryotherapy, can be dated back to 3500 BCE ancient Greece, with first recorded mention being an ancient Egyptian medical text. It was studied by Hippocrates as well as by several physicians in the 1700s, and many others throughout the years.

In researching cryotherapy I found something interesting: the idea of dopamine "fasting" to reset our pleasure and reward pathway. There have supposedly been scans showing that by choosing the right type of dopamine boosting activities, vital receptors will regrow with time. In today's world there is instant pleasure everywhere we turn, from fast food on every corner to social media, drugs, shopping, gambling, the list goes on. Dopamine "fasting" refers to limiting and/or stopping activities that result in instant gratification.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:

-CLEAN EATING ONLY: QUALITY FRUIT, VEG, AND PROTEIN, WITH FOCUS ON GUT HEALTH (NO PROCESSED FOODS OR UNREFINED SUGARS)

-LIMITED SOCIALIZATION, ELECTRONICS, ETC.

-SWAPPING INSTANT GRATIFICATION ACTIVITIES WITH HEALTHIER DOPAMINE BOOSTING PRACTICES, SUCH AS CRYO AND MEDITATION

The unprecedented stressors of overstimulation in our society today are well known. With an ongoing spike and crash leaving our brains to perform a constant balancing act, it is no wonder many are left feeling unmotivated and fatigued. When a scan of the brain was taken during cold exposure it showed a level of dopamine comparable to what you would see with cocaine. However, the major difference was a steady rise and fall, lasting hours, as opposed to a quick spike and crash.

While this all continues to be studied, there is evidence that we know of showing the numerous benefits of activities that result in a steady rise and fall of dopamine. Some other activities include walking, exercising, and mediation. The benefits of cold exposure specifically include:

-Mental resiliency

-Increased metabolism

-Decreased joint and muscle pain

-Increased immunity

-Improved sleep

-Increased Testosterone

-Alertness

-Enhanced thermoregulatory ability

-Reduced depression

-Reduced inflammation

-Hormone balance

-Breathing control during physical stress

-Cardiovascular, nervous system, and muscular RECOVERY (so much so that experts say to wait to take an ice bath at least 20 minutes before a workout and 6-8 hours after a workout so as to not sacrifice gains)

No matter your goals, it's evident that cold exposure could be a beneficial tool to implement into an existing regimen. I will be using it in mine and updating along the way.