7 Surprising Ways Baths And Showers May Change Your Life For The Better
Expertise: Beauty, Health, & Wellness
Experience: 2 years
Indrani is a writer and artist who likes to add a dash of humor to everything she does. She has two years of experience in writing articles across beauty, health, and lifestyle genres. After graduatin... more
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If we ask you why you take a shower, the first answer will probably be to keep yourself clean and fresh. And of course, there is no denying that! But what if we told you that a shower helps you with way more than just washing dirt and grime away from your skin? A relaxing bath can do wonders for your body, soul, and mind after a long day. This is probably why Dave Hoffman showered for 174 straight hours to break a Guinness World Record! Many of us don’t realize that taking a bath has health advantages beyond making us feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. Here in this article are a few health benefits of taking a shower regularly. Read on to know them all!
1. It May Help You Retain Your Shape
It may sound too good to be true, but there is some research that suggests that taking a cold shower may aid with weight reduction (1). When exposed to cold temperatures, such as in a shower, brown fat cells produce heat by burning fat. This is how the fat cells are reduced. But that doesn’t mean that you can abandon healthy eating and exercise and just stand under a cold shower to remain fit!
2. It May Help Lower Your Blood Sugar Levels
In certain cases, a shower may be more effective than exercise at reducing blood sugar. This is not a recommendation to forego regular exercise, but one researcher did find that people’s peak blood sugar levels after eating were around 10% lower when they took a nice shower instead of exercising (2). It’s important to note that while the overall response of blood sugar to both exercises was comparable, it had a significant impact on blood glucose levels after eating.
3. It May Help You Relieve Clogged Sinuses
You can take a hot bath to clear your sinuses if you wake up with a stuffy nose and a headache every day. Just like using a humidifier or huffing over a hot bowl of water, a warm shower helps to increase the moisture in the air. To eliminate the slimy details of the process, let’s just say that steam can clear your nasal passages and throat, making it easier to breathe and making you feel less congested early in the morning.
4. It Reduces Your Stress And Anxiety
One of the best things you can do for yourself if you’re having a rough day is to soak in a hot bubble bath. Even a fast, hot shower can be helpful. In addition, the release of oxytocin during a soak can help you relax and unwind (1). This hormone has been linked to stress-reducing properties. You can prepare your bath with bath bombs, scented candles, and some dim lighting. Simply relax your body and soul; you deserve it!
5. It Relaxes Your Muscles
Relaxing in a hot bath at home is a great way to speed up your muscle recovery time. Researchers and regular folks alike swear by this technique for its ability to reduce overall muscle tension and increase systemic blood flow (2). Muscles become more flexible and mobile as a result. If you have a sprain or knotted muscles, simply take a shower in warm water to relax the muscles.
6. It May Boost Your Endurance
Exercising has several well-known advantages, but the numerous benefits of taking a bath are lesser known. When the two are combined, you reach new heights of stamina and health. One research found that those who took cold showers before their workouts had more endurance and could maintain a higher intensity level for longer (3). However, make sure you cool down your body temperature before going for a shower.
7. It May Help You Sleep Better
Those who have a habit of taking a shower before going to bed tend to be sound sleepers. It helps relax your body and mind and takes most of the stress away that keeps you awake. Simply take a shower with warm water, dry up, and hit the bed. Following this routine may help you keep all kinds of sleep problems at bay.
While bathing is an essential part of most of our everyday routines, not all of us realize how helpful it is for our bodies. Hope this article helped in illuminating some of the benefits of taking a bath. So, what is your favorite way to relax your body and mind? Let us know in the comments section!
