On lazy weekends, when you feel too tired to
get up from the bed, the thought of breaking
the daily ritual and skipping bath occurs
invariably, isn’t it? Well, you should know that
bathing doesn’t just keep you fresh and smelling
good, but also serves to keep you fit and
healthy. Here;s how:
1. Reduces muscle tension : A simple
warm bath can help you to reduce the
number of trips to a physiotherapist.
Bathing reduces tension on overstretched
muscles. It helps to heal sore muscles by
relaxing them and improves flexibility or
elasticity of muscles, especially when you
bathe after exercising.
2. Improves blood circulation :
Immersing yourself in a tub filled with
water increases blood circulation to the
limbs and helps in nourishment of damaged
cells at the extremities. With increased
blood circulation, the blood pressure
reduces and the heart function also
improves.
3. Reduces sugar levels:
According to a study led by Dr. Philip L.
Hooper from the McKee Medical Center in
Loveland, Colorado , diabetics who
immersed themselves in a hot water tub
for about 20-30 minutes (for 3 weeks) had
lowered blood sugar levels (by 13 %). One
of the study participants reduced his daily
insulin dose by about 18 percent after 10
days of hot-tub therapy.
4. Boosts the immune system
: Not just warm water bath but a cold
shower can also benefit you a lot. A study
showed that taking a cold shower regularly
can stimulate the vascular and lymph
system to produce more number of
immune cells that fight infections. This can
decrease your chances of falling sick over
the year.
5. Treats depression :
If you’re prone to depression then a cold
water bath can help you tremendously. A
study by Shevchuk NA showed that
exposure to cold water results in activation
of the nervous system. It increases the
level of the chemicals beta-endorphin and
noradrenaline in the blood which reduces
depression. A cold shower also sends
electrical impulses from the brain which
causes an anti-depressive effect.
6. Helps to reduce stress : You can actually
get rid of all your worries and tension by
taking a bath. A study conducted in Japan
showed that the levels of stress markers
(cortisol and chromogranin) reduced
significantly in people who took a bath
after 60 minutes.
7. Impacts reproductive health in men:
Want to improve libido? Take a cold shower
daily. A study by Thrombosis Research
Institute Cold showed that the levels of
male hormone testosterone increased
greatly in men who took cold showers.
Men who take hot water bath can benefit
in a different way.
Hot water bath is like the cheapest
contraceptive you can get. A study showed
that men who took hot bath every day had
lowered sperm count. That’s because
sperm production and motility decreases
with the testes is exposed to increased
temperatures. Nothing to worry about, your
sperm count will restore once you stop
taking bath with hot water.
8. Removes toxins:
No matter
how much deodorant you spray on yourself,
if you go out without taking a bath you will
stink. If you sweat a lot, then you should
never skip a bath. Sweating is a means by
which the body eliminate toxins. With daily
bath your perspiration odor will be reduced
greatly. Warm water bath not only drains
out all the toxins but also kills bacteria
and viruses, which will also decrease the
number infections you may suffer
throughout the year.
9. Induces sleep: Bathing before going to
sleep has been proven to induce sleep. In
some people it has shown to improve the
quality of sleep while in others it has also
cured insomnia.
10. Improves lung function: With every
mug of cold water that you pour on your
head while bathing, an automatic reflex
action is set in. It forces you to breathe
deeply with a quick pause. When cold
water hits you, you instantly tend to hold
your breath for couple of seconds followed
by deep exhalation. This opens up the
lungs and increases the uptake of oxygen.
11. You’ll look beautiful: Bathing with
warm or cold water is like a natural
cleansing process. It opens up pores,
removes toxins and leaving your skin
smooth and soft. Bathing with salt water
can even reduce signs of aging.