I fill up my tub, climb in, sink down till the water hits my chin. Just imagining it now I can feel my muscles relax, my mind relax into the warmth. I love soaking in water. It turns out that a hot bath has lots of benefits besides relaxing your muscles, warming you up and letting you relax.
Science is beginning to confirm what many cultures around the world have always known: Passive heating (as opposed to getting hot and sweaty from exercise) can improve health.
Soaking It All In by Peggy
Researchers assigned 14 men to either an hour of moderate cycling or an hour-long soak in a 104-degree bath.
Unsurprisingly, the cyclists burned more calories, but the bathers still burned about 140 calories on average — about what they would have used on a half-hour walk. More interestingly, the researchers measured blood sugar for the study participants for the next 24 hours and found both groups had improved ability to control blood sugar, an important measure of metabolic health.
In fact, the bathers’ peak blood sugar levels after eating were about 10% lower than the peak blood sugar for the cyclists, which shows promise for using “passive heating” as a means of helping control metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.
The bathers also experienced an anti-inflammatory response similar to the effect seen in people after they exercise This is significant, since people with chronic disease tend to have chronic inflammation.
Previous findings suggest frequent saunas can reduce risks for strokes and heart attacks and that regular hot baths can help improve blood pressure.
Researchers think the key here could be proteins that help regulate blood sugar — known as heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSP levels tend to be lower in people with type 2 diabetes, and these levels tend to rise after both exercise and “passive heating.”
It’s also possible that exposing your body to heat has similar effects to cold exposure — an activation of the circulatory system that may have long-term health benefits.
This is still early stage research and the group was small and all-male, so the results still need to be validated with larger studies involving both men and women, but soaking in hot water might be helpful for people who could use the health benefits of exercise but struggle to follow a fitness regimen. (Or . . . people who like hot baths better than they like exercise.)
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(PA)
References:
“A Hot Bath Has Benefits Similar to Exercise” by Steve Faulkner, lead author of the study, in The Conversation. ”
I heard that hot baths and being in hot tubs are not good for you if you have high blood pressure. Love your cute drawing.
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Linda,
The research we found finds that hot baths lower blood pressure (expanding the blood vessels by the heat?). There is another post coming on April 28 that will touch on this, and refer to the research. Stay tuned! And thanks!
Peggy
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I have to say that I appreciate this post as Ben and I have an ongoing difference of opinion. I love hot water. That is, soaking in as hot as possible tubs and showers at a decent heat even if alternated with cold. But I love hot water. Maybe because growing up in South Africa we did not have central heating and in Winter the only way to get warm before bed as kids was a hot bath. He on the other hand likes a tub to be um well to me, tepid!! Viva la difference!
Now I have added ammunition to make my point that my way is the right way. hahaha
Peta
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Peta,
Getting wet is a waste, hot or cold! When you have a bath, you lose your glorious smell! Then you have to go out and roll in the dirt to get it back. It wants a lot of time when you could be getting treats or going for walks. I a for NO baths.
Sincerely,
Freddie Parker Westerfield, CBH
Canine Bath Hater
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Like Freddie, I hate baths! I like showers in the morning – they help me wake up. Um, Freddie, I do like to smell nice.
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Sharon,
I smell nice-nice and smelly and dirty.
Freddie Parker Westerfield, N.S.S.C.
Nice Smelly Smelling Canine
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