Benefits of Extreme Temperature Workouts Are Lukewarm

Working out in the heat or cold offers tradeoffs that may or may not be worth the effort

Working out in the cold may help burn more calories but at the expense of building muscle strength. Artem Varnitsin/Shutterstock

First, there were heated fitness studios, now the latest trend is working out in frigid temperatures. Although there are some health benefits associated with each of these regimes, there are also some risks.

Here’s what you need to know:

Hot Workouts

The ideal body temperature is around 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F). When you exercise, your muscles are very inefficient and only 25 percent of the energy is used for movement. The other 75 percent of the energy muscles produce is lost as heat, increasing the temperature of your body. If it exceeds 40 degrees C, it can be dangerous, so your body tries to keep the temperature at around 37 degrees C.