If long baths are a regular part of your self-care regimen then congratulations, you are on the right track—your stress levels may be significantly lower than those who do not bathe regularly. But while we already know about the stress-relief powers of bathing, more exciting things are being discovered about this centuries-old form of therapy and recreation.
Aside from stress and muscle relief, recent scientific studies found that bathing could have health benefits similar to exercise, such as reducing chronic inflammation, blood sugar control, and burning calories. Yes, you read that right: similar to exercise. Let that sink in for a moment.
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To learn more about the studies, check out this article written by Steve Faulkner, research associate at Loughborough University.
And before you ditch your next workout for a trip to the tub, a quick reminder: while hot baths may feel good, you don’t want your water temperature any higher than 102℉. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils eventually drying skin out. If you could stick to warm-lukewarm, that’s even better since hotter days are coming.
Featured Image by Jared Rice on Unsplash
