During the winter season 2020/2021, winter swimming has had a boom in Sweden.
Feeds on social media are filled with icy baths and cold bath houses across the country testify to the fact that the pressure from bathing guests is increasing.
- It is a big pressure, when we opened up for new applications last autumn, there were more than 200 applications in a few minutes, says Lovise Brade who is chairman of Fredhälls Badklubb in Stockholm.
More research is needed
Many people who take a winter bath experience that it reduces stress, provides better sleep quality and that you get a better immune system.
But that winter baths have an immediate positive effect on our health can not be established.
- The research on health effects is a bit scattered and so far only small studies have been done, says physiologist Jessica Norrbom.
But she adds that the uncertainty about the health effects does not mean that there is anything negative about winter swimming.
- Many say that they become alert and more alive from winter swimming, and there can be quite important reasons for doing so.
Watch when SVT's reporter tried to take a winter bath for the first time in the video above.