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Can Simply Soaking in This One Thing Help You Lose Weight?
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You might be reading this and thinking “Yeah, people need to soak their heads if they think that they can soak away those extra pounds!” You would be partially right. It takes a lot more than just a good soak in the tub to drop weight, but soaking in an Epsom salt bath regularly, in combination with other healthy habits, can help you lose weight.
Epsom salt isn’t really salt, even though it certainly looks like it. This product is actually magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. Epsom salts are terrific at helping with many different things, including detoxing and rebalancing the body, as well as reducing the appearance of cellulite, and give your body a much needed infusion of magnesium, a mineral that almost everyone is deficient in.
Epsom salts get their name from Epsom in Surrey, England, when it was first discovered in a bitter saline water source. This naturally occurring mineral is a compound made up of both magnesium and sulfate. This salt look alike has many useful health remedies including:
- Relief from the pain and itching of bug bites
- Safe and natural cleaner for tile and other items in the home
- Eases the pain of muscle aches and encourages quicker recovery
- Alleviates mild sunburn pain and other skin irritations
- Good hair treatment for those with oily scalps
- Super skin exfoliator, especially for the feet
- Soothing treatment for poison ivy or poison oak rashes
- Induces feelings of relaxation
What everyone really wants to know, however, is how can Epsom salts help you to lose weight?
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A British biochemist at the University of Birmingham, Rosemary Waring, conducted a study and found that the magnesium and sulfate in Epsom salts is absorbed through the skin when we soak in a tub where this mineral has been added. After a 30 minute or longer soak, the blood levels of these two minerals increases greatly. This is one way in which the body helps to remove environmental toxins, to heal the skin, and to de-stress the mind.
A lack of magnesium in the body can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, backaches, and other problems. Low levels of sulfate often cause feelings of lethargy and exhaustion. By soaking in a bath filled with Epsom salt, you can alleviate both of these issues and restore balance to the body.
This scientist believes that weight gain can occur thorough poor nutrient absorption as well as emotional overeating. When you remove toxins from the body, increase and balance its mineral levels, increase feelings of well-being, along with getting a better nights’ sleep, this can lead people to make better food choices, allowing their bodies to get more from the foods that they do eat, and stop overeating.
SEE ALSO: 10 Healthy Ingredients that are Causing You to Gain Weight
Of course there are other researchers, who dismiss these ideas as nonsense, but there is plenty of research that shows that calming and relaxation effects can be a very subjective experience. It’s also fairly obvious that when you change the chemistry of the body, you change the way in which it processes nutrients.
Although not everyone is on the Epsom salt bandwagon, there is one thing that is certain. You can try this method for yourself and judge whether or not Dr. Waring’s idea holds any truth to it.
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How to Use Epsom Salts
Unless you do regular detoxing programs, you should start off slowly with this method. You can begin by adding just a ¼ cup of Epsom salts to your bath each day. Gradually work your way up to adding a full two cups into your bath. Adding more than 2 cups will not bring you any additional benefits and will simply be a waste of money, so once your reach two cups each day, you can continue with that amount. Soak for a minimum of 20 minutes, though 30 is ideal. Don’t make the water too hot so that you don’t experience any problems with your blood pressure. Be certain that you drink at least one full glass of water before your bath, drink another while you are in the bath, and still another when you get out so that you do not become dehydrated. Your body will be removing toxins, so it needs plenty of water to sweat those toxins out!
If you find that a daily bath is a bit too much for you, then feel free to reduce it to two or three times per week. Every one’s body is different and you should always listen to what your body tells you is right for you.
You can also make some of your own specialized Epsom salt bath soaks by adding some of the following ingredients to your bath:
- Ginger – Adding 2 tablespoons of ginger to your bath water, in addition to your Epsom salts, will really open up the pores and allow you to release even more toxins. Smells great too! Ginger works best with really hot water, so you might want to mix it in a liter or so of almost boiling water, allow it to cool down to merely being hot, then add it to your bath.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda is Mother Nature’s own cleanser that also has detox properties. If you feel you are suffering from heavy metal or other toxic chemical exposure, this might be the answer for you. Baking soda is the perfect neutralizer! Add one cup of baking soda and one cup of Epsom salt to your bath water.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is good for you inside and out. It’s well-known for its beneficial effects on the skin and on your metabolism, so it makes perfect sense to add it to your bath. Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and ½ cup of Epsom salt into your bath.
- Essential Oils – You can double the soothing and calming effects of an Epsom salt soak by adding your favorite essential oils. Lavender is always a good choice, as it has been proven to induce feelings of calm, but you can use 10 to 20 drops (depending on the size of your tub) of almost any essential oil that pleases you.
If you are under a doctor’s care, are taking any prescription medications, especially blood pressure medication, if you have diabetes, kidney problems, heart disease, or if you are pregnant, always consult your doctor before beginning any type of herbal or detoxing program to be certain that it is safe for you.
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