Another happy upside of relaxing 15-minute soak

A hot bath does more than wash away worries—it may prevent heart disease and diabetes, suggests research presented to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Folks who took four or more 15-minute baths a week had lower blood pressure and a lower body-mass index, plus lower measures of other metabolic markers that raise the risk of heart conditions and diabetes, compared to those who soaked less often. Short, frequent baths work like cardiovascular exercise, ramping up heart rate and increasing circulation.