10 Health Benefits of Taking a Good Hot Bath

10 Health Benefits of Taking a Good Hot Bath

You know, sometimes it's amazing how much benefit we can get from such little things. Taking a good soak in a hot bath is one of these things. Soaking in hot water is more powerful than one might think. In fact, there are quite a few definite health benefits to be gained.

1. Improving our blood circulation Dipping the body in hot water to the neck is kind of an exercise for your blood vessels. This is because water creates physical pressure on the body and so increases the capacity of our heart. In other words, when we're inside the water, the heart works faster and stronger. This is not a massive undertaking, more like a light exercise. A few dips a week is an excellent work out for your heart.

2. Helping us fall asleep Hot water relax the body and better prepare us for falling asleep. When a tense body enters a warm bath, the hot water increases the body temperature and relaxes the muscles. Relaxing the muscles not only helps us relax physically, but also mentally, and many of us need that peace of mind at the end of the day. That said, be attentive to your body - don't fall asleep in the bath and limit your stay to no more than 20 minutes.

3. Staying in shape Over-stretched Muscles, small sports injuries and even joint pain can be relieved with a (clean) hot bath, which is the perfect ending to physical activity.

4. Lowering our blood pressure A recent study has shown that soaking in a hot bath can lower your blood pressure. This is a great system for those heart conditions that have to watch out for spikes in their blood pressure.  If you do have a heart condition then first, of course, consult your doctor, because a hot bath will also raise the rate of your heartbeat. If they say it's ok, then it's a great way of bringing down your blood pressure.

5. Losing weight Another study has indicated that people who suffer from diabetes and soak in a hot tub on a regular basis are able to reduce their levels of sugar and glucose in the blood. The study found that soaking in a hot bath for about 20-30 minutes, 6 days a week, made participants lose almost 2.5 pounds (2 kilos) a month as compared to the control group.

6. Cleaning the skin While it is true that a shower is cleaner than a bath, a good soak in hot water after a shower can open up the pores in our skin, and if the water is clean then they can come in and clean some of the dirt and toxins in our skin. The result is a fresh feeling and cleaner skin.

7. Reducing headaches Most types of headaches are caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the head. The positive effect of the hot water on our blood vessels can be used to alleviate the pressure on those blood vessels and cure our headache.

8. Feeling better with ourselves Life is full of stressful events, and a hot bath can be that shoulder you need to cry on. Take a good soak and try to relax, it's known that when we feel better physically, we get more confident in ourselves, more convinced we are up to the challenges ahead.  A hot tub is a great way to reduce daily anxiety as well. Very few of us are aware of just how much the body's physical state increases our levels of perceived anxiety.

9. Helping our cough and flu symptoms The hot steam of a hot bath can dry out the mucus accumulating in our throat, which is one of the most common reasons for ongoing coughing. In addition, a hot bath can also alleviate symptoms of the flu. Taking a 10-15 minute hot-soak-break can really help you feel better while your body is getting rid of the disease.

10. Moisturizing our skin We may not like the wrinkled skin we get after a hot bath, but it actually has a good effect on it. The warm water leave the skin moist for longer, and so prevent it from drying up and getting those little cracks that often appear when it's dry.

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES: Despite all the advantages, a regular soak in a hot bath is not recommended for everyone, so make sure that... * You don't soak for more than 15-20 minutes each time. * If you have a heart condition, consult with your doctor about taking hot baths. * That you take something cold to drink with you, because we tend to sweat in a hot bath and one can get dehydrated. * You're not pregnant! Pregnant women are not advised to take hot baths. Other than that - HAPPY SOAKING!