Deep Breathing for a Better Brain by Jerry Brainum 8/25

 

 

Wim Hof is a Dutch man known for his uncanny ability to withstand extreme cold. For this reason, he's often called the "Iceman," not to be confused with the psychotic serial killer of the same name. Hof holds several world records related to cold exposure. He has set 26 different World Records, including the longest swim under ice, the fastest half-marathon barefoot above the Arctic Circle, and the longest time submerged in full-body contact with ice: 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 2 seconds. In 2007, he climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest wearing nothing but shoes and shorts. He also ran a full marathon through the scorching Namibian Desert without a single drop of water. His secret for this ability to withstand the cold and heat is what he refers to as the "Wil Hof Method." The Hof method involves a combination of frequent cold exposure, a specific style of deep and prolonged breathing, and meditation. Although not an Internet influencer, Hof has developed a cult following due to the numerous health claims associated with his Hof Method. However, although he cites the benefits of the Hof Method as having irrefutable scientific evidence, most scientists disagree. Indeed, a few people have died after attempting to immerse themselves in ice-cold water for a prolonged time, as Hof does. From a physiological point of view, such cold water immersion is acceptable for short periods and can provide some benefits, including increased release of a brain neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is associated with increased drive and motivation, as well as being responsible for the pleasant effects felt during sex and when using certain drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamines. But extended cold water immersion can adversely affect heart function, explaining why people die in cold water following shipwrecks. The decreased heart function that results from prolonged cold water exposure causes them to pass out and drown.

While the cold exposure part of Hof's method is questionable at best, there may be something to his breathing technique. Specifically, using Hof breathing may promote the activity of a newly discovered brain mechanism called the Glymphatic System (GS). Until recently, the precise function of sleep and its importance for health and longevity were not fully understood. Sleep is when hormones such as growth hormone peak, so deep sleep is critical. Most scientists who study sleep believe that the primary function of sleep involves body repair processes. Not getting sufficient sleep would short-circuit these vital repair processes, resulting in disease. While that is true, the discovery of the brain's Glymphatic system highlighted the most crucial function of sleep: maintenance of brain function.

Simply put, the Glymphatic system is how the body clears out accumulated junk in the brain. That junk includes misfolded proteins such as Beta-Amyloid and Tau, which are thought to be the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The GS involves the entry of . . .