Before the global pandemic came to encapsulate the world, the headline that was attracting attention was that of the Wim Hof Method. As videos spread of Hof easing into icy waters with the same casualness you’d expect of a hot shower, fitness enthusiasts and athletes alike sat up to pay attention. With a focus on breathing and cold therapy, soon you couldn’t take a cursory scroll through Instagram without seeing someone bragging about their record achievement in cold therapy. But if the idea of submerging yourself in an ice bath is too much to bear, it turns out a hot soak in the tub is just as beneficial. In fact, researchers have found it’s almost as good for you as a long run.
Hot baths were first used by the ancient Egyptians some 4,000 years ago. While they might conjure images of romance or self-care today, know that there are some surprising benefits to your overall health that come from simply immersing yourself in piping hot water. Researchers at the University of Coventry recently led a study that discovered a hot both has many of the same benefits as aerobic exercise.
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The study found that heat therapies like submersion in a hot tub can raise core body temperature and improve blood flow, which in turn can lower blood pressure, control blood sugar and even reduce inflammation. Similarly, a study in Finland showed that middle-aged men who had four to seven sauna sessions a week had a 50 per cent reduction in their risk of fatal cardiovascular disease, compared with those who had only one sauna a week. If that wasn’t enough to convert you to heat therapies, it’s also thought to be an antidepressant and has been shown to decrease the risk of dementia.
While the benefits are certainly worth noting, it goes without saying that exercise will always outweigh a hot bath when it comes to health benefits. You might emerge invigorated from your soak, but you won’t be building muscle or strength, nor will you be aiding weight loss.
So, just how hot does the bath have to be to receive such benefits? Well, here comes the tricky bit. Researchers found that the best option is to sit up to your shoulders in a hot tub that is heated to approximately 40 degrees Celsius for an hour. Given the heat required, it’s likely you won’t be able to achieve this in your own bath tub, so most recommend enlisting the services of professionals. Baths might be able to make you healthier, but with this kind of heat, it’s always worth seeking medical advice as you could be at increased risk of dizziness, fainting and dehydration. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that your hands and feet will be withered like prunes post-soak. Still, to our health!
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