How Ice Cubes Can Help Calm Anxiety, From A Nutritional Psychiatrist

When anxious feelings arise, it's helpful to be equipped with management techniques in your toolbox. Similar to breathwork and meditation, mbg recently discovered one free and effective way to quell anxiety—and it's seriously cool (at least, in terms of temperature). 

One side effect of the body's natural fight-or-flight response is a dry mouth. "In anxiety, the brain tends to have a negativity bias," Naidoo explains, "meaning worry causes anxious people to always be on the lookout for a threat." When the body is fixated on a potential threat (in this case, anxiety or external stressors), it deprioritizes functions like digestion and saliva production. 

While it can be useful in the moment, Naidoo says to be aware of a few things.

"In certain heart conditions, the ice cube can be 'a shock' to our bodily systems," she says. Research has shown cold exposure can increase mortality rates1 for people with cardiovascular disease, so if you're concerned, consider speaking with a primary care physician. 

Allowing the ice to melt in the mouth is usually safe, but chewing on the ice frequently can have some unwanted side effects. Pagophagia, or the excessive eating of ice, can break down tooth enamel, making teeth more prone to cavities or chipping. 

All that said, ice is just water. In general, it should be a harmless, healthy, and free way to help manage anxious thoughts as they arise.