7 Health Benefits Of A Hot Shower
There are so many differing opinions out there about whether you should take a cold or hot shower in the morning and the evening, though most opinions are sitting around whether hot and cold water are good for your skin.
Let's take a look over a few of the health benefits you might notice after taking hot showers rather than Luke warm or cold ones.
Reductions in Stress
Have you ever had a bad day and taken a shower to make yourself feel just that little bit better? Then you’ve likely experienced what hot water does for the body. Warm temperatures prompt your muscles to relax and expand as well as boost your body’s oxytocin levels. That means you’re not only reducing your stress levels, but you’re also promoting a happier and more positive mood.
Rapid Temperature Increases Kill Bacteria
Almost all bacteria you’ll find on the exterior of your skin are highly sensitive to any sort of temperature change. Having a hot shower is likely to kill off the majority of bacteria on your skin. On top of this, if you do have any surface level sores or scratches, this bacteria sanitisation from the hot water will let your body heal even faster.
Soothes Sore Muscles
If you’re an avid fitness fanatic and have one too many tight muscles, or you’re simply a bit sore from sleeping the wrong way, then a hot shower is perfect for you. Warm water helps improve blood circulation throughout your body and also soothes aching muscles, so if you’re feeling a bit stiff or have an aching joint, a hot shower will certainly help you.
Lastly, if you’re often on the receiving end of a bad migraine or a headache, you might find that a hot shower will help you out with this too. Poor circulation often causes headaches and so a warm shower is certainly going to be one of the best ways to get rid of these.
Helps Control High Blood Pressure
As you might already know, high blood pressure is a serious problem and can cause major health problems in the long term. Although a hot shower isn’t recommended as your only treatment for high blood pressure, it certainly will be of some assistance. Studies have shown that hot water does, in fact, lower blood pressure and that the longer you stay in the shower the more controlled your blood pressure will be.
Rain-showers are a Great Way to Warm Up
Aside from the obvious health benefits, a hot shower is one of the easiest ways to warm up before your morning or evening workout. It’s important to remember that warm muscles are relaxed and flexible and these mean you can workout without the risk of tearing or pulling something.
If you love a morning workout then a hot shower is essential before you head off to the gym or for your morning run. It might even be a great idea to invest in an entirely new rain-shower head just to give your morning shower that extra oomph.
Gets You Ready for Bed
You might find it hard to sleep in the evening if you’re stressed or just aren’t too tired. That’s another area where a hot shower comes in handy. Warm water acts as a sedative for humans and that means just a few minutes in a warm shower will help to relax all of your muscles and get your body ready for bed. Once you’re out of the shower though, you’ll need to hold on to the sleepy feeling and focus on going to sleep, not doing something that will wake you back up.
Hot Water Affects Diabetes and Weight Loss
A number of studies over the past decade have shown that hot showers are a great way to help manage and control both diabetes and weight loss. The facts tell us that having a hot shower for around half and hour every day each week can reduce blood glucose levels and also help you lose up to one kilogram a week. This is a great way for you to keep your health in check and it’s as easy as taking a shower.
It states have a hot shower for half an hour!? --- all I can say is do NOT come to my house -- and expect to do that -- it should take no more than about 3 mins for a shower and to wash your self -- and maybe 5 mins if you are washing your hair