Essentials: Supercharge Exercise Performance & Recovery with Cooling

Episode • Mar 20 • 33m

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I discuss the critical role of temperature regulation in optimizing athletic and physical performance.

I explain why overheating can hinder performance and endurance and how techniques like palmar cooling can help extend physical effort by aiding temperature regulation. I also highlight how specific body areas, such as the palms and face, are key targets for regulating temperature, allowing heat to dissipate efficiently. Lastly, I discuss how temperature can support training recovery while cautioning that extreme cold, such as ice baths immediately after training, can block adaptations.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch or listen to the full-length episode at ⁠⁠⁠hubermanlab.com⁠⁠⁠.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Huberman Lab Essentials; Physical Performance & Skills, Temperature

00:03:03 Sponsor: AG1

00:04:07 Temperature Homeostasis, Vasoconstriction & Vasodilation

00:06:42 Elevated Heat & Performance Barrier

00:08:26 Regulating Temperature, Glabrous Skin, “AVAs”

00:12:20 Sponsor: Eight Sleep

00:13:49 Strength Training & Heat Effects, Tool: Palmar Cooling