10 Major Health Reasons to Take a Hot
Bath or Shower
Taking a hot
bath has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to our minds, bodies, and
skin.
Here are ten
reasons to ignore the irritable child, pour you a glass of wine, purchase an
electric instant water heater, and relax in a long hot bath or shower:
1. Helps to lower blood sugar levels
Walking. A
hot bath could be exactly what you need to control your blood sugar and burn
calories. Loughborough University researchers investigated the impact of a hot
bath on blood sugar control (an important measure of metabolic fitness) and
energy expenditure in a recent study (number of calories burned). They enlisted
the help of 14 men, each of whom spent one hour in a hot bath. They then
compared the number of calories burned during each session and measured their
blood sugar for 24 hours after each trial. Bathing burned about as many
calories as a half-hour walk (around 140 calories). Both conditions had a
similar overall blood sugar response. Bye-bye, gym.
2. Get to sleep faster
The body
relaxes and we are better prepared to fall asleep when we are in hot water.
When a tense body enters a warm bath, the hot water warms the body and relaxes
the muscles. Muscle relaxation benefits us not only physically but also
mentally. However, only 20 minutes are required, and be careful not to fall
asleep in the tub!
3. Helps to lower blood pressure
Bathing in a
hot tub has been shown in studies to lower blood pressure.
This is a
fantastic system for people who have or don't have heart problems. However, if
you have a heart condition, consult your doctor first because a hot bath will
also increase the rate of your heartbeat. If your doctor says it's okay, it's a
great way to lower your blood pressure.
4. Muscle tension is relieved
Hot showers
can help to relieve stress and relax tense muscles. Even better if you have a
powerful shower head! Allow the hot water to work on your shoulders, neck, and
back like a mini-massage.
5. Your skin will be cleaner and healthier
A good soak
in hot water, whether in a bath or a shower, can help to open up our skin's
pores. If the water is clean, it can also help to remove some of the dirt and
toxins from our skin. The end result is skin that is brighter and cleaner.
6. Keeps our skin hydrated
Although we
may not enjoy the wrinkled skin that results from a hot bath, it does have a
beneficial effect. Warm water keeps the skin hydrated for longer, preventing it
from drying out and cracking.
7. It improves circulation
Dip your
body in hot water up to your neck as a form of blood vessel exercise. This is
because water exerts physical pressure on the body, increasing our heart's
capacity. To put it another way, when we're in the water, our hearts beat
faster and harder. Consider this a light exercise, and just a few dips a week
will give your heart a good workout.
8. Helps in the relief of cold/flu
symptoms
Because hot
steam moisturizes nasal passages, a hot shower also acts as a natural
decongestant to relieve cold symptoms. Taking a 10-minute hot-soak break can
also help you feel better while your body heals.
9. It relieves headaches
The
narrowing of blood vessels in the head is what causes the majority of
headaches. The beneficial effect of hot water on our blood vessels can be used
to reduce blood vessel pressure and cure headaches.
10. It makes us feel
good about ourselves
Take a nice
warm shower after a stressful day and try to relax, as it is well known that
when we feel better physically, we feel more confident in ourselves and are
more convinced that we are up to the challenges ahead. A hot bath can also help
to relieve daily anxiety and make us feel better in general.
As you can
see, there are numerous advantages to taking a hot shower or bath on a regular
basis to improve our quality of life.
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