Warm evening baths are not only very pleasant but also quite beneficial. And not just for physical health, but for mental health as well.
People take baths not only for cleanliness. According to doctors, a relaxing evening in warm water can bring much more benefits to your physical and mental health.
The effect of a bath, experts believe, can be somewhat compared to the impact of running on human health. In some cases, bathing may even be more beneficial for the heart than physical exercise.
Here’s what will happen to your condition if you regularly take baths.
Your Heart and Blood Vessels Will Be Healthier
Scientists have found that the habit of taking a bath five or more times a week can help prevent heart attacks or strokes.
As Japanese researchers discovered, regularly taking a bath with water temperature at 41 °C strengthens the heart and reduces the risk of plaque formation in the arteries.
When you immerse yourself in water, blood in your body is redirected from your legs and abdomen to your heart. Additionally, high temperatures help lower blood pressure.
As general practitioner Masarata Jilani explains, a single hot bath can increase heart rate by 20–40 beats per minute. Regular bathing helps reduce arterial stiffness, which is especially beneficial for middle-aged and older individuals.
Blood Sugar Levels Will Decrease
Scientists from Portsmouth conducted an experiment and asked 14 volunteers with type 2 diabetes to immerse themselves in water at a temperature of 40 °C for one hour eight to ten times over two weeks.
It turned out that such water procedures effectively improve insulin sensitivity, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
How does it work? When your body enters hot water, heat shock proteins are released. These compounds lower blood sugar levels.
Stress Consequences Will Dissolve
A warm, relaxing bath after a long day greatly lifts your spirits. However, researchers have data indicating that warm water can effectively help with more serious mental issues.
Scientists from Germany decided to check what effect thermal baths would have on people diagnosed with depression. 45 subjects were divided into two groups. Members of one group were to visit thermal baths twice a week, while participants in the other group engaged in moderate-intensity physical exercises.
It turned out that the depression level in the first group dropped by six points, while those who "treated" themselves with sports saw only a three-point decrease.
"We accumulate both physical and emotional stress in our bodies, so a warm bath helps us relax," explains psychotherapist Suzy Masterton.
Muscle Pain Will Disappear
Warm water allows tension to release from the muscles and enhances blood flow. As a result, muscles relax and hurt less even after intense exertion. Therefore, a bath after an intense workout is a real lifesaver.
Additionally, immersion in warm water helps muscles recover faster. You will feel less fatigued and be able to train more effectively, continuously improving your results.
Moreover, warm baths alleviate the condition of people with arthritis, reports the Daily Mail.
