Benefits of Bathing

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One healthy habit can literally change our lives.

And this one is something we all do regularly.

Bathing or grabbing a shower – not a practice you can skip, right? Apart from the obvious fact that we must maintain hygiene, there are several important health benefits to bathing.

Me, I prefer baths, mainly because we just did not have a showerhead in our bathrooms when I grew up.  Our arrangements were basic, but yes, we had plenty of water – except that it had to be carried into our bathroom in buckets so we could enjoy long leisurely baths.

While I am a “bath” person, most people prefer showers, which is fine really, except you do end up wasting a lot of water (unless you’re showering with a friend), the fact remains that a warm relaxing bath is the best way to relieve stress and tension after a long day.

What happens when you bathe? It…

• Cleanses
• Detoxifies
• Stimulates blood circulation
• Strengthens the immune system

Here is a quick review of the various health benefits of bathing. If you are someone who doesn’t bathe daily, here are solid reasons to….and if you are someone who bathes daily or more than once a day, rejoice!

Health benefits of bathing

Eases muscle tension

A warm bath makes a beeline to your muscles, helping you relax and improving your flexibility. You can enhance this with some gentle stretching. When you bathe regularly, your musculo-skeletal system stays healthy.  Bathing also helps to maintain your  muscle position, so that the tension is distributed uniformly across your skeletal system. If you get tension headaches often, a long bath is an easy remedy to help you get rid of them!

Relieves stress

Sure, stress is healthy but only up to a point. When it crosses that limit, you have to take action to tackle it.  And no, denial does not work. So how about indulging in a nice long bath to say goodbye to your anxiety and worries? Let your body  relax. Bonus tip? Switch off your phone for an uninterrupted bath.

Detoxes

While we know that sweating flushes out toxins from the body, did you know that a bath that’s warm enough to make you break into a fine sweat can do the same? Yes, but make sure that the water is not so hot that it will scald your skin. As part of the detox process, regular bathing also helps zap body odor. The warm water is also known to get rid of certain types of bacteria and viruses, so you may thank your bath for better immunity towards colds and infections.

Boosts blood circulation

Bathing keeps your blood circulation going as it should, making sure healthy blood cells are produced, while healing damaged tissues. This leads to a better sense of wellbeing.

Strengthens the immune system

You already know that bathing means better immunity, which means your body actively fights infection.  Bathing stimulates the vascular and lymph system, which decreases your risk for a cold and flu. This helps the immune system work harder to destroy bacteria.

Please note:  If you have a blood pressure condition, stay away from hot baths. Cool the bath water a little and after you bathe, let your body cool down gradually to its normal temperature before you step out. 

Keeps skin healthy

Regular bathing keeps your skin supple, moisturized and healthy. And of course, it goes without saying that moisturizer is best applied on damp skin for best results.

So next time you hop into the shower, or step into a long bath, in the glow of those scented candles and soothing music, congratulate yourself!

Live healthy, stay healthy!

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