Men vs. Women: How Our Bodies Respond Differently to Contrast Therapy
Discover how contrast therapy—alternating between sauna and cold plunge—affects men and women in unique ways, backed by clinical insights into hormones, fat metabolism, cardiovascular response, and recovery.
🔥 What Is Contrast Therapy?
Contrast therapy is the deliberate alternation between hot (sauna) and cold (plunge) environments. It’s a timeless Nordic tradition now supported by a growing body of clinical research—and it’s catching fire around Lake Michigan with spots like Campfire Sauna bringing this ancient ritual to Wilmette and beyond.
🧬 Men and Women React Differently to Heat + Cold
💪 Hormonal Differences
Research suggests that hormonal cycles and baseline hormone levels can affect how men and women respond to both heat and cold.
Men generally have a higher tolerance for cold exposure due to increased muscle mass and metabolic rate.
Women, on the other hand, may experience greater vasoconstriction in response to cold, making it feel more intense.
🧠 Clinical Insight:
A study published in Temperature (2021) indicated that women may feel colder at higher temperatures due to thermoregulation differences in estrogen and progesterone levels, especially during the luteal phase.
🟤 Brown Fat Activation and Insulin Sensitivity
Cold exposure stimulates brown adipose tissue (BAT), a special kind of fat that burns energy to create heat.
Men tend to have slightly more BAT, helping with fat burning and thermogenesis.
Women, however, may benefit from more dramatic increases in insulin sensitivity after repeated exposure.
🧠 Clinical Insight:
A 2014 NIH study showed that cold therapy increases BAT activity and improves insulin sensitivity, with significant metabolic benefits for both sexes.
❤️ Cardiovascular and Recovery Responses
🧍♂️ Men:
Increased blood pressure response to cold.
Slightly faster muscle recovery in strength-training scenarios.
🧍♀️ Women:
Higher heart rate variability improvements after sauna use.
Greater reduction in perceived stress and inflammation.
🧠 Clinical Insight:
Finnish studies from the University of Jyväskylä have shown that women may have stronger parasympathetic nervous system activation from sauna, which promotes recovery and relaxation.
📍 Contrast Therapy in Wilmette: Find Your Flow
Whether you're at Gillson Beach, post-run along the lakefront, or just craving restoration, Campfire Sauna provides a serene, Scandinavian-inspired experience. Customize your heat-cold cycle, tune into your body's response, and bring someone along—you may be surprised at how differently you each react! It’s so important you listen to your individual body!
🧘♀️ Final Takeaway
Contrast therapy is deeply personal and deeply powerful. Men and women experience it differently, but the end result is the same: greater resilience, metabolic health, and a return to our primal roots.
🔥 Ready to feel the fire and the freeze? Book your session with Campfire Sauna today.
