Hot baths and saunas provide similar health benefits to exercise

Do you feel too tired to exercise today? Maybe you could take a hot bath instead. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers found that taking a hot bath or relaxing in a sauna provides many of the benefits people get from vigorous walking, jogging, or cycling. They observed that heat can increase blood flow, body temperature, and heart rate, leading to better cardiovascular health, less inflammation, better blood sugar control, and lower depressive feelings. But passive heating with baths and saunas won't help you lose weight, decrease fat, or strengthen muscles and bones. Consider exercising 5 to 6 days a week and using hot baths and saunas as a health strategy on your rest days.