The older I’ve gotten, the less baths I’ve taken. I feel as though this is the case for many people. As the pace of life picks up and responsibilities grow, there just isn’t enough time for a bath. If you’re looking for quick and clean, a shower is the best route. But a bath has a lot of health benefits that showers do not. So maybe finding time for that peaceful bath is worth it after all.
Benefits of a Hot Bath
Take a minute to think about how you feel after a bath: relaxed, at ease, happy, and maybe tired. That right there is a benefit within itself. A bath helps relax your body; taking one before bed can help you to fall asleep easier and can even work to improve sleep. Mentally, a bath can increase serotonin levels, which can help to reduce stress and 
combat anxiety, increasing your overall mood. Physically, the hot water is relaxing the muscles. This relaxation of muscles also helps with workout recovery, as it has been shown that a bath can help with inflammation.
All that steam surrounding you can work to your benefit too. The steam opens up your pores, much like washing your face with warm water, and allows for all the dirt and toxins to come out. Working alongside this is the moisturizing qualities of a good soak. Though a bath will not fix dry or broken skin, it will help to add a little more moisture in there and work to prevent drying out.
How many times have you taken a bath when you’re sick? That may be the only time you take a bath – and it always makes you feel better, doesn’t it? A hot bath can help you to sweat out the toxins from the cold or flu, and can also help to dry out all that mucus you got goin’ on.
Would you believe me if I told you that a hot bath can have the same health benefits as completing a workout? Well, according to recent studies, it’s true. Soaking in the water, up to your neck, has been shown to increase heart rate. This is from the pressure that submerging in the water puts on your body. In turn, this puts the circulatory system to work. Some studies have shown that a hot bath can provide better regulation of blood sugar levels over the following twenty-four hours, may have effects on blood pressure, and can increase overall heart health. This could be beneficial for combating symptoms of diabetes.
Benefits of Bath Salts
Bath salts are a great addition to any bubble bath. They contain minerals such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, bromide, and calcium. Adding these in can keep skin smooth, soft, and radiant; as well as help to improve the natural tone and texture. The bath itself helps to detoxify the skin, and so do bath salts. They help to open up pores and clear out those pesky impurities.
Bath salts help with a lot of the same things a hot bath alone does – double whammy!
“Magnesium helps us fight stress and combat fatigue;
Calcium keeps water retention in check, promotes healthy bones and can help stave off osteoporosis;
Potassium balances moisture levels in the skin;
Bromide soothes tired, sore muscles;
Sodium plays a significant role in managing the balance of lymphatic fluid in our bodies,” (4).
Taking a bath is sounding even more appealing now, isn’t it? So light those candles, pour that glass of wine or make a cup of tea, soak your beautiful body, and reap those benefits! As a general rule, baths should not exceed 104 degree fahrenheit. Ideally, your bath should last anywhere from 15-45 minutes, and not longer than one hour.
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Sources
(1) “10 Great Reasons We All Should Have Regular Hot Baths.” Baba-Mail, 9 Apr. 2017.
(2) Holmes, Lindsay. “Great News! A Hot Bath Could Have Similar Benefits To Exercise.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 3 Apr. 2017.
(3) Koopman, Diane. “10 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Taking a Bath.” Lifehack, Lifehack, 30 Mar. 2016.
(4) “Benefits of Bath Salts.” Ultimate Bath Salt Guide, San Francisco Salt Company.
