It is not uncommon to find many devotees taking a plunge in the holy Ganges in the ghats of Hrishikesh or Varanasi. The devotees believe that it is going to wash away their sins. While we do not want to comment on the religious beliefs we would want to highlight the many benefits of taking a plunge into ice-cold water. Improves lung function: Your lung function improves tremendously when you take a plunge in cold water suggests a study published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences[1]. That feeling of breathlessness you get when you take a plunge into