Is this not the best news ever? It turns out that the benefits of spending 30 minutes in a hot tub are equal to the benefits of a 30 minute run! How great is that!!! Read the entire story
here.
How’s this for a warm-up?
Sitting in a hot tub for 30 minutes could be just as beneficial for health as going for a run, research from Coventry University in the UK has found.
“The healing effects of water stretch back centuries, and hot water immersion or hot water healing is practiced for spiritual, mindful and health reasons all over the world,” Dr. Tom Cullen, assistant professor of research at the Coventry Center for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, told the Sun this week.
Cullen’s team studied the mood, heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, cortisol, thermal perception and anxiety of healthy participants between the ages of 26 and 60.
People in the study immersed themselves in a Lay-Z-Spa Majorca Hydrojet Pro, a square hot tub that fits up to six people, for three half-hour sessions over three days.
Sitting in a hot tub has physical and psychological benefits, according to experts. Shutterstock
After their soak, participants saw blood flow to their legs increase by an average of 345% — about the same impact of jogging for 30 minutes, researchers said.
Participants heart rates after being in the hot tub matched those who had gone for a fast walk — an average of 31 beats a minute.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, the tub time reduced cortisol, the hormone that helps the body manage stress, by 22%.
After their soak, Coventry University participants saw the blood flow to their legs increase by an average of 345% — about the same impact of jogging for 30 minutes, researchers said. Shutterstock
Dr. Mariyam Hassan Malik, who was not involved in the Coventry study, noted that hot tubs relax muscles and promote the release of endorphins that help reduce stress.
“Soaking in a hot bath before bedtime may promote better sleep as the increase in body temperature followed by a drop in temperature when you leave the bath can signal to your body that it’s time to rest, helping you fall asleep more easily,” Malik told the Sun.
“Hot water can dilate blood vessels, improving circulation. This can be particularly beneficial for people with cardiovascular issues, although it’s important to use caution and consult with a health care professional if you have a heart condition.”
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