Are you looking for a quick and easy way to lose weight without dieting or exercising?
If so, you might have heard of the alpine ice hack, a popular method that claims to burn fat by tricking your body into thinking it’s cold. But what is the alpine ice hack, and does it really work?
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this controversial weight loss technique, and whether it’s worth trying or not.
What is the alpine ice hack?
The alpine ice hack is a term coined by Dr. James Johnson, a former NASA scientist who discovered that exposing the body to cold temperatures can activate a type of fat called brown fat, which burns calories to generate heat. Brown fat is normally found in babies and hibernating animals, but adults also have some of it in their neck, shoulders, and chest. According to Dr. Johnson, by stimulating brown fat, you can increase your metabolism and lose weight without changing your diet or exercise habits.
The alpine ice hack involves drinking a glass of ice water first thing in the morning, followed by a cold shower or bath for 10 minutes. Then, you wear a cooling vest or wrap yourself in a cold towel for another 10 minutes. The idea is to lower your body temperature by a few degrees, which will trigger your brown fat to start burning calories. Dr. Johnson claims that by doing this every day, you can lose up to 10 pounds in a month.
Does the alpine ice hack work?
The alpine ice hack sounds too good to be true, and unfortunately, there is not enough scientific evidence to back it up. While it is true that brown fat can burn calories when activated by cold, the amount of calories burned is very small compared to the total daily energy expenditure. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, exposing people to cold for two hours increased their brown fat activity by 15%, but only burned an extra 80 calories. That’s equivalent to one apple or a slice of bread.
Moreover, the alpine ice hack can have some negative side effects, such as lowering your immune system, increasing your risk of infection, and causing hypothermia. Hypothermia is a serious condition that occurs when your body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C), and can lead to confusion, shivering, drowsiness, and even death. Therefore, it is not advisable to expose yourself to extreme cold for prolonged periods of time.