WHAT
Epsom Salt was discovered in the early 1600's in England. It is a naturally occurring compound of magnesium and sulfate, which are important minerals for our bodies. Magnesium is an essential micro-nutrient that is needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in our bodies. When you take an Epsom Salt bath, the minerals are absorbed through you skin. Some argue this may be a better way to absorb the minerals than taking them orally, but that has no been proven.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
The magnesium in Epsom Salt is really the MVP here.
A lot of naturally occurring magnesium is removed from processed foods, which leaves most people deficient. Including Epsom Salt baths into your weekly routine for some added magnesium can do wonders for your body and your overall health.
Research has shown taking a warm/hot bath (around 90 degrees) has shown to decrease your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. This makes logical sense as taking a nice bath is a very calming activity. There are some clinical trials showing magnesium benefits to people suffering from depression, even going far enough to show similar results to some depression medication.
:: Additional Benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath ::
Reduces symptoms of chronic fatigue
Detoxifies your body
Improve skin hydration
Soothes achy muscles and joints
Relieves headaches and migraine
Alleviates PMS
Great natural exfoliate
Helps you body fights off a cold
Reduces symptoms of depression
Overall, it's a calming, safe, and an inexpensive way to give back to yourself for all that you do!
HOW TO IMPLEMENT
Hit up your local grocery store or Amazon and grab a bag or two of Epsom Salt, make sure its 100% magnesium sulfate.
Schedule in some "me" time.
All it takes is 20 minutes for you body to absorb the minerals. We all spend more than 20 mins scrolling through our phones throughout the week, make time where you can.
Fill up your tub with hot water and add at least 2 cups of Epsom salt to your bath. You can also include some relaxing essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to add to the ambiance and overall calming experience.
On a personal note: I schedule this in a couple times a week and notice a difference in my recovery from working out or just feeling achy from sitting at a desk all day. To double down on your "me" time... Most times I will play an audio book or podcast for some "mental food" or just use it as quiet time to decompress.
Note: don’t take an Epsom Salt bath if you have open wounds or burns and its not recommended to drink alcohol at the same time :)
I WANT MORE
Just plain ol' Epsom salt with no frills, all the benefits & you can order it on Amazon.
Lovely, calming scents for your bath. I love Epsom salt with has some essential oils. It makes your bath time that much more relaxing allowing you to really unwind.
Another way to add Epsom Salt to you bath is with bath bombs. Just note some have less than desirable ingredients and you will need 2-3 bath bombs to get the recommended amount of Epsom salt.
:: Super Cool Research ::
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