Put Your Sneakers Away, Because Hot Baths Are Just As Good For You As A 30-Minute Walk
You can get a cardio workout without leaving your bathtub.
getty What if I told you that sitting in a bath and listening to some Maroon 5 after lifting weights was just as good for you as doing cardio? You probably think the best way to learn how to get in shape is to hit the gym and exercise, but you are mistaken.
Believe it or not, some things in life sound too good to be true, but in fact are true. And this is one of those things.
Unless you’re a super-energetic person who wouldn’t choose relaxing in solitude in water up to your neck over going for a run in your neighborhood on uneven sidewalks that could make you take a serious tumble, you're in luck.
A study by a group of students at Loughborough University has shown that no, this isn't too good to be true.
Throughout this study, 14 men were the experiment subjects. They were put through two tests: a one-hour bicycle ride, and a one-hour bath in 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The goal was to raise the body’s core temperature by one degree.
You probably won't find it surprising that the cycling burned more calories. However, you will find it surprising that over the course of the hour in the bath, 130 calories were burned just by sitting there. And 130 calories is what the average person burns during a 30-minute walk.
Little to my knowledge, there’s actually been an ongoing debate for some time when comparing and contrasting the effect that constant physical activity has on the body versus passive heating of the body (such as being in a sauna).
This includes making your peak blood sugar about 10 percent lower than when you’re doing something active (such as riding a bike), having an anti-inflammatory effect (after you’re done heating), and improving your cardio-metabolic health, which includes makes you less likely to suffer high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Why not be lazy once in a while and take a hot bath? You'll save time, and be relaxed for your next gym session.
Eric Webb is a writer living in New Jersey. He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Penn State. He's passionate about sports and encouraging people to be themselves.