Putting ice on the belly makes you lose weight: true or false?
There are several methods or techniques to get rid of extra pounds . One of the most natural solutions to having a nice figure and a flat abdomen would be to apply an ice pack to your stomach .
This technique, inspired by cryotherapy , would have beneficial results on the line. How is this explained?
Would cold temperatures help burn fat?
It should be understood that there are two types of fatty tissue in the human body : white and brown. White adipose tissue constitutes about 25% of body weight in non-obese people.
It provides energy to the body and helps maintain body temperature. Infants and small animals use this brown fat to stay warm .
White adipose tissue, on the other hand, promotes the accumulation of lipids and makes it difficult to burn calories .
But a scientific study (1) shows that exposure to cold temperatures can transform white fatty tissue located in the abdomen and thighs into brown fatty tissue.
These researchers have thus established that it is possible to burn fat by exposing oneself to the cold . Concretely, the thermal variation caused by a drop in temperature would cause several immediate effects on the body.
To fight against the cold, the body will then draw on its energy resources by burning a lot of calories in a single session.
What roles do ice cubes play in weight loss?
In humans, the normal body temperature ranges from 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the weather outside. This thermal average is maintained thanks to the body’s thermoregulation system which causes it to burn approximately 150 kcal per day.
When you submit your body to a temperature below 15°C, this triggers the process of thermogenesis .
The cold will force the body to set up a series of reactions to generate heat and fight against cooling: chills, muscle contractions…
These sequences of events will lead to an increase in the number of calories burned . In doing so, the body boosts its basal metabolism in order to maintain its temperature at 37°C.
This is the same thing that happens when you do ice therapy . The ice pack on the belly will activate the work of brown adipose tissue, and cause an increase in the number of calories burned.
It will therefore have a burning of body fat, followed by a slimming effect over the days.
However, it is also necessary to ensure that you follow a healthy and varied diet, and do physical exercise on a regular basis in order to achieve optimal results .
How to use ice cream on the stomach to lose weight?
A regular massage of your abdominal part, with ice cubes, will allow you to lose belly in a few months .
Get yourself an ice pack or wrap some ice cubes in a thin cloth, and place it over the entire belly area.
To avoid frostbite (numbness of the skin, redness and pain, tingling, blisters), lift the bag at regular intervals. Operate this way for about 30 to 45 minutes , once a day , for at least two weeks.
This therapy is not recommended for diabetics , people with arterial diseases or poor blood circulation.
Other Tips
In winter, you can go out with little cover to take about 1000 steps. This may seem difficult for chilly people, yet this trick will allow you to spend energy and easily lose calories!
In addition to putting ice cubes on your stomach to lose weight, taking a bath a day in cold water will lead to energy expenditure, because the body will react with several stimuli to maintain its temperature at 37°C.
Do not hesitate to jump into the water in winter weather for a good invigorating swim. This is a good way to awaken all your senses and firm the skin. But be careful, do not forget to take the advice of your doctor before taking a dip . Don’t swim for long either.
The professional method to lose weight by the cold
For people who do not wish to apply ice to the stomach to lose weight, there is another ultra-effective solution, which can be done by a professional: cryotherapy . This treatment with degreasing and anti-inflammatory properties, allows you to regain your form thanks to the extreme cold.
In fact, cryotherapy or very low temperature therapy consists of using the action of cold to stimulate the body’s metabolism . This technique has specific applications today, including cryolipolysis , performed in a cosmetic surgery center or by a specialized doctor.
After a study of the parts of the body to be treated, the practitioner will apply to the targeted areas, a suction cup linked to the device dedicated to cryolipolysis , which will inject cold and suck up adipocytes and other unsightly bulges.
Cryolipolysis does not allow , strictly speaking, to lose weight . But it guarantees an elimination of fat cells on an area of the body. The results are generally visible after one month of treatment.
There are no set limits to the number of sessions. Some treatments require several sessions, while others are conclusive after a few days of treatment.
The most common temperatures during a cryotherapy session are around -110°C to -140°C .
Losing weight by applying ice cubes to your stomach is a natural process, beneficial for both your health and your figure. But keep in mind that this solution does not work miracles.
It is therefore not an action through which you could say goodbye to your extra pounds. For it to be complete and effective, it must be associated with a detox or slimming cure , and respect a balanced lifestyle.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.