“My hot tub makes me feel good!” Sounds like a great marketing slogan, but in actuality the number one reason people use a hot tub is for the way the spa makes them feel. Hot tubs help to reduce stress, induce healthy sleep patterns and relieve the body of aches and pains caused by diseases like bursitis and arthritis.

A very little known fact is that hot tubs can help to reduce weight. In studies published in the “New  England Journal of Medicine” initial studies have shown that patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated a decrease in blood sugar levels, a decrease in blood pressure and weight loss.

Weight loss? Not so fast. The study shows decreases in insulin by 18% for those with diabetes, lower blood pressure and modest weight loss. Great for the diabetic, not so great for someone trying to actually lose 5 pounds or more of ice cream filled love handles.

It’s all about the blood flow. There are several things happening to your body when sitting in a hot tub. When the body hits the water, the body reacts. The heart begins to speed up to handle the additional heat and as the body acclimates to the elevated temperature of the water, the blood vessels expand. This turns the body into a blood pumping machine. This type of circulation allows the healing process to speed up exponentially and we haven’t even turned the spa on yet.

Once the spa has been turned on, the jets begin to spin and churn the water. As the jet pressure builds up onto the body, the blood is pushed from those areas receiving direct pressure from the jets. As this happens, the blood is mobilized to these areas of the body. The benefit is the removal of lactic acid and harmful buildup on the joints and tendons.

As far as I know, there are no legitimate get rich quick schemes, there is no such thing as the fountain of youth and hot tubs do not provide permanent weight loss. The notion of sitting in a spa to burn off thousands of calories is a fantasy. Spending some time in the gym and soaking in the spa afterwards will provide quicker recoveries and reduce the chance of injury. Be good to yourself!

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