Taking a bath helps lower your blood sugar : Soaking in hot water for an hour works as same as exercise

Relaxing in a hot bath both improves inflammation and lowers blood sugar levels, research suggests.

Indulging in a warm soak for an hour triggers the release of a chemical that combats inflammation in the same way as exercise.

Taking some time out in the tub also releases a substance that lowers blood pressure, the study also found.

Researchers from Loughborough University analysed ten sedentary, overweight men after they either sat in a 38°C (100.4°F) bath or rested for an hour.

Blood samples were taken before, immediately after and two hours post the immersion to test the men's glucose and insulin levels, as well as to look for markers of inflammation.

Heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature recordings were also taken every 15 minutes during the bath.

The men who had the hot bath were then asked to have ten more at home over two weeks before undergoing additional blood tests.

Results showed that just one hot bath raises levels of the inflammatory chemical IL-6 in the bloodstream. This also increases during exercise, which triggers an inflammatory response.

Peaks in IL- 6 are then followed by the release of substances that combat unhealthy levels of inflammation.

After the men's daily at-home baths, their blood sugar and insulin levels were lower while they were fasting and resting.

The study was published in the Jour nal of Applied Physiology.

The researchers, led by PhD student Sven Hoekstra, believe a bath could 'improve aspects of the inflammatory profile and enhance glucose metabolism in sedentary, overweight males'.

They added a hot soak 'might have implications for improv- ing metabolic health in populations unable to meet the current physical activity recommendations'.

A person may be unable to exercise if they have suffered an injury, an asthma flare-up or a concussion.

The participants did, however, report feeling uncomfortable during the hour-long bath, which may be due to the temperature of the water or the amount of time they spent in it.

Around one in four adults worldwide suffer from high blood pressure.

If it is consistently high, this puts an extra strain on the heart, which has been linked to a higher risk of a heart attack, heart failure and stroke, as well as kidney disease and even dementia.