India, Dec. 8 -- Cold plunges have become a go-to ritual in modern wellness routines, praised for everything from boosting immunity to speeding up recovery. But here's what often gets overlooked: most of the science behind these icy benefits is based on studies done almost entirely on men. That leaves a big question mark over how cold plunges truly affect women - because one thing is clear, women's bodies respond to cold very differently.

Dr Sermed Mezher, a family medicine physician and health content creator based out of England, is breaking down the real effects of cold plunges on women - do they truly work, or can they backfire? In an Instagram video posted on December 8, the physician explains the mixed evidence suggesting potential...