Weight loss is a common goal that many people want to pursue. In this quest to burn body fat and reduce weight, certain innovations have sprung up over the past few years. The ice hack diet for weight loss is one of these many innovations. But what is the ice hack weight loss diet? How is it different from other diets? Most importantly, is it worth trying out the ice hack weight loss diet?
Although the name “ice hack” clearly indicates the use of ice to melt body fat, this ice hack is more than just using plain ice. It is a weight loss strategy aimed at boosting your metabolism by using a combination of food along with ice to reduce weight and burn body fat.
The Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet—a Brief Introduction
One of the latest trends making rounds on social media is the Ice Hack weight loss regime that is as unique and distinct from other diet plans as its name suggests. This ice hack weight loss regime involves:
- Consuming cold beverages including ice water, iced tea, and cold coffee
- Cold treatments such as cold showers, cold baths, cooling vests, and ice packs
- Use of specific supplements taken with ice water such as Alpilean supplement (also called alpine ice hack)
- Consuming Himalayan herbs as a diet supplement
- Incorporating natural foods that are free of any processed items, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Consuming ice cold water with meals to help increase the burning of calories
Before we explore further and answer the question “what is the ice hack weight loss diet?”It is important to understand that there is no valid and final scientific proof that the ice hack is an effective weight loss strategy. Perhaps this is the reason why it is recommended to consult a nutrition specialist before embarking on the journey to reduce weight by using the ice hack weight loss plan.
How Does the Ice Hack Weight Loss Works?
If you are someone looking for innovative ways to reduce body weight and burn those extra pounds, you may have stumbled upon the ice hack weight loss regime on social media. Here, a question of “what is the ice hack weight loss diet?” may have prompted you to explore further about this diet.
The science behind this ice hack weight loss is simple. When you expose your body to cold temperatures, the sympathetic nervous system of your body activates, sending signals to your fat cells to release the stored fat for energy. This process where the fat cells are broken down and burned off is known as “lipolysis”.
But there’s more to ice hack than just lipolysis. The extremely cold temperatures activate brown fat, which is a type of fat that burns calories to produce heat. This brown fat is considered “good fat” as it helps regulate the body temperature and burn calories, as opposed to white fat, which is responsible for storing excess energy.
Which foods constitute the Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet Plan?
The idea behind the ice hack weight loss diet is to use specific combinations of food. This food is consumed at certain times that aid in boosting metabolism and reducing weight. Let’s look at some of the food combinations that the ice hack weight loss diet constitutes:
- Foods rich in protein: these include sources of “lean” protein such as turkey, chicken, tofu, fish, and legumes. This is because proteins help to keep you full along with supporting muscle growth.
- Incorporating sources of healthy fats such as avocados, seeds, nuts, and olive oil in your daily diet. These healthy fats are an alternative to fats in vegetable oil and help to promote satiety
- Choosing sources of complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole wheat bread. These carbohydrates deliver sustained energy and fiber
- Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables in order to get essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day as well as consuming ice cold water with meals. The reason is that it is widely believed that your body burns more calories when trying to warm up cold water to body temperature.
- The ice hack weight loss plan also encourages eating certain food combinations at certain times of the day to maximize fat burning. For instance, consuming a protein-rich breakfast and incorporating healthy fats in your daily routine can help you lose extra weight. It can also ensure your energy levels are optimal.
Does the Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet Increase Metabolism?
Now that we have delved into what is the ice hack weight loss diet, let us shed some light on its effectiveness as a weight loss plan.
Since the ice hack diet is a relatively new diet, there is no research proving that it is actually an effective weight loss strategy. However, like any other diet, the ice hack diet may lead to weight loss naturally if you are taking in less energy than you are burning.
Nevertheless, there are some important features of the ice hack diet that may lead to weight loss:
- The ice hack means you are consuming more ice throughout the day, which increases your daily water intake. According to research, taking in more water, especially before mealtimes, can help to give a feeling of fullness, thereby leading to less cravings and overeating.
- A study revealed that cold foods are much less likely to lead to high insulin levels in contrast to hot foods that may spike the insulin levels. These high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance over time, which is a leading cause of obesity.
However, it is worth noting that the temperature of your food is unlikely to cause any significant weight loss. The ice hack weight loss diet may encourage consuming cold food and beverages throughout the day. However, these foods cannot make you cold enough to affect your body weight.
Is the Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet Safe?
Consuming cold food is not necessarily bad for your health. However, there are certain risks of eating cold food and consuming iced beverages:
- Consuming excessively cold foods may delay gastric emptying, which means slow digestion
- As per a study, cold foods may lead to slower stomach contractions, which means that your food moves more slowly through your digestive system.
- Slow digestion may worsen gastroparesis (slow intestinal movement), causing nausea and vomiting
- Exposure to cold foods and drinks may bring changes to the gut microbiome. These are a community of bacteria in your gut that facilitates the breakdown of food for easy conversion to nutrients.
There are no significant conclusive studies showing that consuming ice cold water with every meal can lead to weight loss. Nevertheless, taking in a natural, unprocessed diet (such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes) is sure to help you lose that extra weight.
The Ice Hack Weight Loss Diet—-a Last Spotlight
If you are among the many people wanting to lose weight while staying physically active, chances are you may have stumbled across the ice hack weight loss diet plan on social media. Curiosity may as well have led you to ask “what is the ice hack weight loss diet?”. As the name suggests, the ice hack is a regime involving consuming ice cold water, taking ice cold baths, and eating cold food to aid in burning excess fat. The effectiveness of this weight loss method, however, is still inconclusive so far.
