Why a Bath Can Be Healthier for You Than a Shower

Taking a bubble bath or bath bomb–infused soak will never go out of style — and for good reason. Sure, there are the mental health perks of taking some self-care bath time for yourself, but there are some real physical benefits too. In fact, science shows that baths can benefit everything from your blood pressure to your immune system.

So go ahead, get the water running, grab your favorite book, and cue up your fave chillout playlist...you'll want to hop straight in after reading up on the perks of taking baths.

5 Reasons Why Bathing Is Seriously Good for You

May Have Similar Effects to Exercising

While, no, bathing can't replace your workout, there's a silver lining: Exercise physiologists found that it will have similar effects on your body afterward, due to the rise in body temperature. In one small study, researchers found that an hour-long bath burned approximately 140 calories in each person (which is about the same number of cals someone would burn during a half-hour walk). What's more, immersing all your limbs in the high heat can also help regulate your blood sugar.

Can Help Regulate Blood Pressure

Heat therapy, such as soaking in a tub for 20 minutes or so (or using a heating pad!), can help stabilize blood pressure and contribute to overall better heart health by increasing and improving blood flow to and from the heart — another commonality with exercise. (Forest bathing, a deep-woods Japanese wellness ritual, can do the same, potentially reducing both blood pressure and cortisol, which will ultimately calm you from the inside out.)

Nix Mental Fatigue

Not only will your limbs feel less sore and more relaxed following a bath, but studies on balneotherapy, a type of mineral bathing, show that bathing can also help you experience less mental fatigue. You probably already know baths reduce stress, but you gotta love a scientifically sound excuse to relax.

Can Boost Your Immune Health

Elevating your body temperature with a hot bath can actually boost your body's ability to fight infections and viruses. And if you're already sniffling from a cold or allergies, slipping into warm water can actually aid the flow of oxygen throughout your respiratory system.

Help You Sleep Sounder

Simply making a routine out of rituals such as relaxing in the tub at the end of a rough day has been reported to improve sleep quality, and baths get sleep bonus points for all those stress-relieving perks already mentioned. Turn on a sleep music playlist while you soak and you'll be oh so chill in no time.