Why A Hot Bath Might Be Better For You Than A Workout

When you need to unwind and decide to go the self-care route instead of the happy hour one, there are two go-to options: A hot bath or a sweat session at the gym. Now research says that, in many ways, chilling in the tub is just as beneficial for your health as slogging it out on the treadmill.

A recent study performed at the University of Loughborough‘s National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine set out to raise the body temperature of its male participants by 1 degree, using either an hour of moderately paced cycling, or an hour in a hot (104 °F / 40 °C) bath.

Although cycling used up more calories overall, reclining in the tub did burn 130—around the same amount as a 30-minute walk.

Post-heating, the participants’ blood sugar was monitored for 24 hours and researchers discovered peak levels were 10 percent lower after a bath than after a cycle ride. The two activities also seemed to produce a similar anti-inflammatory response in the body.

These findings actually make a lot of sense in the context of spa and sauna traditions from around the world. Many cultures use passive heating (raising the body temperature and taxing the cardiovascular system without the use of strenuous exercise) as a form of healing and cleansing.

Most recently infrared saunas have been causing a buzz in the wellness world thanks to their laundry list of reputed health benefits. Heating the body from the inside out, instead of the outside in, using skin-penetrating infrared light waves, these saunas help with pain, inflammation, low energy and poor circulation. What’s more, they soothe the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body unclench and cope with stress better.

Although certainly not an adequate replacement for regular exercise, passive heating does appear to have significant health benefits, and having a hot bath every week is an easy way to support your body’s natural functioning.

About the author

Esme Benjamin

Wellness Editor

Born and raised in Bristol, England, Esme has been geeking out over syntax her entire life. She studied English Lit by the Brighton seaside before moving to London to pursue her writing career in 2009, going on to work for Grazia Daily, The Telegraph and SheerLuxe. In 2013 she swapped The Big Smoke for The Big Apple, where she trained as a yoga teacher and contributed to Refinery29, Self, Fitness Magazine and Greatist. When she's not glued to her laptop or iPhone you'll find her drinking Kale Margaritas at an East Village happy hour, planning her next adventure, or hand-standing (with more vigor than skill) at the yoga studio.