Even though our society is concerned about weight, many people still have trouble losing It.
The fixation with weight loss and maintenance is reflected in the number of gyms, training classes, and personal exercise programs accessible everywhere.
However, obesity continues to be a global epidemic and one of the leading causes of death globally.
Calorie burning is a necessary component of any strategy for weight loss that works.
Among the many possible methods for burning calories is having a hot shower or bath.
Can you burn calories in a hot shower or bath? Studies have shown that the heat from a hot water bath can increase your heart rate and raise your metabolism, helping you to burn more calories.
Hot water bathing has been proven to aid in calorie burning in a more recent British study.
Read on to discover lots more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ Hot water bathing or showering for up to an hour has been found to alter a number of biological processes, including calorie burning.
✅ Losing weight could result from this. For more than a century, people have utilized hot water soaks to unwind and lessen tension.
✅ Numerous studies have now demonstrated that hot showers and baths have effects on the body other than calorie burning and weight loss.
✅ These include the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, carbohydrate metabolism, immunological system, and inflammatory response.
✅ Additionally, they can help the endocrine system, encourage sleep, and boost brain health.
✅ Additionally, you ought to utilize bleached hair products and restrict the number of times you bleach your hair.
✅ The relaxation, heat, and calming water will all be helpful to you and additionally, you might shed a few pounds as a result of the calorie burn.
Studies Regarding Weight Loss And Hot Showers
A tiny but important study on the results of heat therapy was carried out by Loughborough University in the UK. The major goal of the study, according to lead researcher Dr. Steve Faulkner, was to assess the effects of exercise and heat therapy, also known as thermal therapy, on the body.
Researchers discovered that taking a hot bath for an hour can burn 130 calories or approximately the same as walking for 30 minutes. One group of participants spent an hour in a 104° bath. The second group cycled at a medium pace for an hour. The subjects’ blood sugar levels and calorie burn were tracked by the researchers.
The body works harder to maintain its normal internal temperature as a result of increased external heat, which raises the number of calories burned. The energy expended in the bathing group was similar to that of the active bicycling group, showing that regular baths can have similar effects to regular exercise.
Those who do not or are unable to routinely exercise, especially those who are fat, may benefit from burning calories by taking a hot bath or shower for an hour.
This study also discovered that the blood glucose levels of the hot water participants were 10% lower than the bicycling group.
This suggests that the glucose was processed in an effort to keep the body’s core temperature at a healthy level. It also suggests that there would be less glucose available for conversion to fat storage.
Benefits Of Bathing In Hot Water
Research has shown that the advantages of hot showers, baths, hot tubs, and saunas can help you achieve your weight loss objectives as well as improve your general health and wellness. The following advantages of taking hot water baths have also been researched, in addition to calorie burning that may aid in weight loss.
Promotes heart health
Your cardiovascular system may benefit from a slight rise in heart rate. Your heart muscles are worked when your heart rate rises, which also improves circulation and removes toxins from your body. A study from the Graduate School of Medicine at Osaka University in Japan found that taking hot baths lowers blood pressure and improves circulation throughout the body, which lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The Mayo Clinic discovered that the effects of sauna use on the body are comparable to those of water bathing in a different study. Your heart rate rises from resting to anywhere between 120 and 150 beats per minute during a regular sauna session. Before using a sauna, ask your doctor if it’s safe for you if you already have heart problems.
Lowers cortisol and stress levels
When you are stressed out, your adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. A cortisol overdose might cause metabolic issues including elevated blood pressure or blood sugar. Your appetite is stimulated by particularly harmful food cravings. If it’s not controlled, this could lead to weight gain.
You may maintain a healthy weight by controlling your stress levels and subsequently your cortisol levels. Hot water bathing has been shown to reduce stress by promoting relaxation, which in turn lowers cortisol levels. In one study, blood cortisol levels of people who had experienced heat stress decreased significantly before, during, and following a 20-minute immersion in hot water.
Improves Quality Of Sleep
Lack of sleep can be a significant obstacle to losing weight. Over 5000 published articles on hot water, and baths were reviewed for a study by the University of Texas at Austin. They came to the conclusion that taking a 10-minute warm bath 1-2 hours before bed can greatly enhance your sleep.
Boosts the Metabolism of Glucose
The body’s main energy source is glucose. Extra glucose is either transformed into fatty acids by insulin, distributed throughout the body, and stored as fat in adipose tissue, or it is stored as glycogen in the liver. As a result, the relationship between the consequences of too much and too little glucose in your diet and the part it plays in promoting fat-burning and weight reduction is delicate and complex.
Your body will begin to burn its fat reserves for energy if you do not consume enough calories. Generally speaking, you burn more fat when you consume fewer calories. A calorie deficit like this can lead to weight reduction. Your metabolism will speed up as a result of the hot water in the bath, and you’ll need to burn more calories or fat to keep your body temperature stable.
Additionally, it has been shown that taking hot baths increases insulin sensitivity, which regulates how much glucose your body uses.
Nitric oxide production has also been connected to an increase in body temperature. Blood arteries may relax as a result, lowering blood pressure. In addition to helping glucose adequately feed our tissues for energy, nitric oxide is thought to have anti-inflammatory qualities by experts.
Reduces Inflammation
Hot water bathing may have a similar anti-inflammatory effect on the body to exercise, according to certain research. Hot water bathing might be a cutting-edge treatment for people with inflammatory disorders, even if reducing stress, keeping a healthy weight, and exercising every day are recognized to help regulate inflammation.
Relieving Respiratory Conditions
Because of the increased heart rate and blood flow, taking a hot bath enhances the delivery of oxygen to the lungs. More oxygen is available to the lungs when the heart pumps out more fresh blood.
Even just taking a hot bath will help clear up mucus and congestion in your airways, which will ease breathing. Your ability to breathe deeper and use more oxygen may also be boosted by the water’s temperature and pressure on your chest.
Aids Sore Muscles And Stiff Joints
Hot water bathing encourages muscle relaxation by increasing blood flow. The weight that joints, bones, and muscles must carry is lessened by the buoyancy effect. Additionally, the warmth and pressure of the water itself can lessen discomfort and swollen joints.
Enhances Mental Health
A healthy mind may also be supported by taking hot baths. According to a 2018 study that was published in the International Journal of Hyperthermia, brain health was improved. Memory, learning, mood disorders, and energy metabolism were the specific areas impacted.
This is advantageous for weight loss because each of these regions has an impact on the body’s capacity to burn calories efficiently.