References: Embracing discomfort

The key studies and reviews behind these pathways – organised by page, so you can see exactly what each claim on the site is based on.

Kox, M., van Eijk, L.T., Zwaag, J., et al. (2014). “Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response in humans.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(20), 7379–7384. The Radboud University study this page describes directly, showing people trained in the Wim Hof method could voluntarily influence nervous system functions long assumed automatic.
Šrámek, P., Šimečková, M., Janský, L., Šavlíková, J. & Vybíral, S. (2000). “Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures.” European Journal of Applied Physiology, 81(5), 436–442. The evidence behind this page’s account of the measurable stress response – raised heart rate and adrenaline – produced by deliberate cold exposure.

Alirezaei, M., Kemball, C.C., Flynn, C.T., Wood, M.R., Whitton, J.L. & Kiosses, W.B. (2010). “Short-term fasting induces profound neuronal autophagy.” Autophagy, 6(6), 702–710. The evidence behind this page’s reference to autophagy, the cellular process of clearing out damaged components that fasting triggers.
de Cabo, R. & Mattson, M.P. (2019). “Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease.” New England Journal of Medicine, 381(26), 2541–2551. A comprehensive review supporting this page’s claim of plausible, though not yet fully proven, links between fasting and mood and mental clarity.