Critiquing Dr. Mike
Overview
In August of 2024, someone in my cold plunge community posted a clip from Howie Mandel’s YouTube channel with Dr. Mike’s comments about cold plunges. It was published on July 26, 2023, so my response is clearly late. The title is “Cold Plunges are NOT Recommended.” I did not search for updates, and do not know if there is a larger context. However, I would like to address the points that Dr. Mike makes in the short video.
Here is a direct link to the YouTube video, which I encourage you to watch before you read the rest of this article. The video is just under three minutes.
TLDR
Dr. Mike makes a false statement, contradicts himself, and commits several logical fallacies.
Published Research
First he states that there is no evidence for the benefits of cold water immersion, which is simply false.
There is published research and we have links.
PubMed
PubMed is a free online database that helps people find and access published scientific and medical research and articles.
Here is the website:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Here is what I found in less than two minutes. I used the advanced search with “AND” between each keyword, and in the title or abstract. Here are the key words and the number of results
- “cold water”: 1,767 results
- “cold water immersion”: 205 results.
- “cold water recovery” returned 116 results
- “ice bath” returned 67 results
I did not sort through all of these, so some results might not apply. But there is research about the benefits.
Additional Sources for Published Research
Huberman Labs Podcaset #66 discusses the benefits of Cold Exposure
https://youtu.be/pq6WHJzOkno
Check out the paper by Dr. Rhonda Patrick: “Cold Stress Benefits Cold Shocking the Body.” It is in the files section of my free Facebook group and you can also google it.
The Wim Hof Website has links to published research:
https://www.wimhofmethod.com/science
Personal Benefits
Beyond the research- and more importantly, in my opinion- are the benefits being reported by people using cold plunging as part of their journey to optimal health. I know the skeptics will say “anecdotes are not the same as data.” However, observation IS the beginning of a good hypothesis. Many people report doing countless other things to improve a certain condition, and nothing worked until they started doing cold plunging. Cause or correlation? Impossible to tell. But it keeps happening.
The Problem with Lack of Research
While it’s true that without research, we lack scientific evidence to support or refute the benefits of something, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the benefits don’t exist or that we can’t make informed guesses based on related knowledge. The absence of research indicates a gap in our understanding, but it doesn’t intrinsically imply that something is ineffective or not helpful.
Logical Fallacies
Dr. Mike committed at least ten logical fallacies. For those who don’t know what that is, a logical fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument weak or invalid, even if it might sound convincing. It can lead to to make false conclusions. Learning to spot them can improve your critical thinking skills.
I’ve had a passing interest in effective communication, civil discourse and logical fallacies for years, but don’t keep a working knowledge of them in my head. I do not have formal training in debate or philosophy and only took a one-semester logic class in college.
I’m going to nerd out on this, so if you don’t want to read all of it, at least skim it over.
Straw Man Fallacy:
Example
“I want to come in there and be like, ‘Oh in my fancy suit I’m going to tell you to get a cold plunge and if you do it for three minutes and not three minutes 13.4 seconds you fail.'”
Explanation
The doctor is misrepresenting the argument in favor of cold plunges by exaggerating it to the point of absurdity. The statement about needing to do it for exactly “three minutes 13.4 seconds” is a straw man because it oversimplifies and distorts the actual recommendations, making them easier to dismiss.
Appeal to Authority
Example
This is the difference between people who are excited about information and are researchers versus someone who’s a clinician and actually sees patients.”
Explanation
The doctor implies that their experience as a clinician gives them superior authority over researchers without addressing the actual evidence provided by those researchers. This appeals to their authority as a clinician rather than engaging with the scientific data on cold plunges.
Ad Hominem Fallacy
Example
“People who are excited about information and are researchers versus someone who’s a clinician.”
Explanation
The doctor attacks the credibility of researchers by framing them as merely “excited about information” rather than addressing the substance of their arguments. This shifts the focus away from the evidence and toward the character of the people promoting cold plunges.
Hasty Generalization
Example
“Most patients do not live in this world that they can afford to buy a tub, throw ice in it every day.”
Explanation
The doctor makes a broad generalization about “most patients” not being able to afford cold plunges without providing specific evidence or considering different socioeconomic backgrounds or circumstances.
Appeal to Common Practice
Example
“Most patients do not live in this world that they can afford to buy a tub, throw ice in it every day.”
Explanation
Dr. Mike dismisses cold plunges partly based on the idea that “most patients” don’t engage in this practice, suggesting that because it’s uncommon, it must not be worthwhile. This fallacy ignores whether or not the practice is beneficial regardless of its prevalence.
False Dilemma
Example
“Medically I’m never going to recommend to my patient ever in my life as a physician to go do a cold plunge.”
Explanation
The doctor presents the situation as if the only options are either fully endorsing cold plunges for every patient or never recommending them at all. This ignores the possibility of recommending cold plunges selectively based on individual patient needs and circumstances.
Contradiction
Example
“I don’t know why people are recommending it,” followed later by, “There’s no evidence to say it really does anything valuable.”
Explanation
The doctor first admits uncertainty about why people recommend cold plunges, but then categorically states that there’s no evidence supporting their value. This suggests a contradiction in their level of understanding or familiarity with the evidence. And, as mentioned earlier, there IS evidence for the benefits of cold water immersion.
Begging the Question
Example
“There’s no evidence to say it really does anything valuable.”
Explanation
The doctor assumes that cold plunges don’t have value by asserting that there’s no evidence, without addressing specific studies or data that might exist. This circular reasoning avoids the need to critically engage with the existing research.
I’ve been helping people make DIY cold plunges since 2017. Many options are available for all budgets. We have broke college students who have made their cold plunges for a few hundred dollars.
Red Herring
Example
The transition to discussing Ozempic and the dangers of using it outside of its intended purpose.
Explanation
The discussion shifts from cold plunges to Ozempic, which is a different topic altogether. This change diverts attention from the cold plunge debate and introduces a separate issue that doesn’t directly address the initial point.
Inconsistency
Example
Dr. Mike implies that there is no value in cold plunges, yet acknowledges, “if you like it, if you like the challenge.” This suggests a possible benefit (enjoyment or challenge), which contradicts the absolute dismissal of their value.
Explanation
This inconsistency suggests that while Dr. Mike claims there is no value, he acknowledges that it might have some personal or mental challenge benefit, which contradicts his earlier dismissal.
These fallacies and contradictions weaken Dr. Mike’s argument against cold plunges, because they rely on misrepresentation, logical errors, and inconsistent reasoning.
Join the Conversation
For discussion about building, buying and benefits of cold plunges, join my free Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chestfreezercoldplunge
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