How bathing improves your well-being

How bathing improves your well-being

Everyone seems to be so busy nowadays that sometimes bathing may feel like a chore more than a way of relaxing. But every now and then people deserve to feel relaxed and deserve a break from this stressful world. And bathing is the easiest way to release your stress. Not only it will keep your body clean but it will actually help your entire well-being be in better shape. What type of bath improves your well-being you ask? Both hot baths and cold baths. Here are the reasons why:

How does hot or warm bath improve your well-being:

Warm baths may lower blood sugar. There are some recent studies that found out that when participants took a hot bath, their peak blood sugar after eating was about 10% lower than when they exercised instead. Although the overall blood sugar response to both activities was about the same, it’s still worth noting that it had a noticeable effect on blood sugar levels after eating.

Warm baths may help your body shed some calories. When it comes to burning calories, you probably don’t think about relaxing in the tub. But according to a recent study, one hour of soaking in a hot bath (104 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact) burned as many calories as half an hour of walking.

Warm baths may help keep your pores clean. When we take a steamy shower or a hot bath, it opens up our pores and flushes out the dirt and toxins that build up throughout the day. Aside from just feeling cleaner, it also helps us look and feel better about ourselves when we take care of our skin. Warm baths also promote moisture and slough off dead skin cells so that your skin is smoother and less irritated. They can also dampen the inflammatory response associated with autoimmune conditions, which, in turn, relieves pain and swelling.

Warm bath may help your breath better. If you relax in a bathtub filled with water up to your neck, your lung capacity and oxygen will improve. However, it depends on the water pressure on your body. The hotness or coldness of the water also matters. For instance, when warm water makes your heart beat faster, your body takes in more oxygen. It also helps clear your chest and sinuses, which comes as one benefits of hot water.

Warm bath may help you sleep better. A nice hot bath or shower at night could actually help us get a better night of sleep. Subjects of all ages slept more soundly when bathing in warm water before bed — but timing is important. Our body’s circadian rhythm naturally slows down in the evening to tell us it’s time to sleep, so if we bathe immediately before bed, we risk heating up our temperatures and increasing our alertness.

How does cold baths improve your well-being:

Cold baths may help wash away your blues. Resting in a bathtub filled with water can also do great things for your nervous system. For instance, it can calm your nerves, especially after a stressful day. It also helps lighten your mood when you are stuck in the blues. When we are exposed to cold water, it stimulates the production of noradrenaline and beta endorphins, all while sending electrical impulses from our nerve endings to our brain. And according to one study, all of these chemical reactions could have an antidepressant effect on us. Of course, anyone with depression should talk to their physician to see what’s right for them, but why not also try a cold shower the next time you are feeling blue? It also seems that lying in a horizontal position is beneficial for improving one’s mood and relieving stress. 

Cold baths may help your skin and hair be silky. Since warm bath open up your pores, it only makes sense that cold baths tighten your pores. So, which is better: hot or cold? It’s all about your individual needs. If you’re prone to dry skin, a cold bath will help you retain natural oils in your hair and keep your skin hydrated. But if your pores are due for a cleansing, steam it up!
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