So… should I take a bath instead of exercising?

If just the thought of venturing out for some exercise makes you shiver, you might be in luck, because according to a new study, taking a hot bath (or going to a sauna, if you have one) could be enough . In perhaps the best news since the invention of sliced ​​bread, it appears that heat therapy has been scientifically proven to have exercise-like effects on our bodies.

But let's clarify the data before we come up. Spending half an hour in the bathtub does not replicate, as might be expected, the effects of exercise on our weight or muscle mass. What it does help with is balancing blood sugar levels, improving circulation, reducing blood pressure and inflammation in the body, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease when done regularly, just like any form of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity, either walking, running or cycling. Not bad at all, considering that taking a bath is very relaxing for most of us.

Upon learning of the results of this research, Charles Steward, one of the scientists involved in it, said that they had been inspired by the long tradition of taking baths present in many cultures, from ancient Rome to the Japanese onsen, a ritual that counts with much anecdotal evidence that it is beneficial to health, but little purely scientific. The study conducted by Coventry University involved a group of volunteers who spent the same amount of time in a hot bath followed by moderate intensity cycling. The researchers found a comparable increase in both cases in both body temperature and heart rate.

As welcome as the confirmation that taking a bath is doing something good for our health, Steward is quick to point out that there is no such thing as a good exercise routine: “The expression 'exercise is medicine' deserves its good publicity”, he wrote himself. "It's one of the best ways to stay healthy, but medicine doesn't work if you're not prepared to take it." According to statistics, 42% of British women do not reach the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, so taking a good hot bath is better than nothing and can be a good alternative to help improve the health of those who they can't exercise (or just don't).

Adding some essential luxury to your bathroom is more than necessary to help relax your mind while you take it. Practice escapism from your bathtub with our five favorite products.

Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Candle

Buy in Spacenk (€60)

This Works 'Deep Sleep' Bath Salts

Buy at Lookfantastic (€18.95)

Sephora scented solid soap

Buy at Sephora (€3.99)

Kiehl's Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel Refill

Buy at El Corte Inglés (€14)

Neal's Yard Beauty Sleep Shower Oil

Buy at Skin City (€28)

15 products for a perfect relaxing bath

By Mayte Salido

This article was originally published on Vogue.co.uk