The Metabathing Protocol

Did you know that taking a 30-minute hot bath can burn as many calories as a 30-minute walk?

What is Metabathing?

Metabathing is a practice of using a bath or shower to enhance and boost metabolic rate, while avoiding environmental toxins that can slow down metabolism, such as obesogens and PUFA seed oils.

Unlike virtual bathing in the metaverse, Metabathing is a real-life practice that aims to combine the ancient healing aspects of bathing with modern scientific knowledge. The mission of Bathing Evolved is to help people transcend traditional bathing practices and embrace the benefits of Metabathing.

We will explain the Bath Narrative, the importance of preparing the body and mind before the bath, and the benefits of a hot bath with minerals, carbonation, and temperature control. The guide also emphasizes the importance of detoxification and suggests using pure bath products free of toxins and chemicals. The post-bath stage is also discussed, with options for maximizing circulation benefits and moisturizing the skin.

Is a bathing system really necessary?

These days, taking a morning or evening shower has become an expected part of our daily routine. Nevertheless, we must not forget that bathing holds more profound significance than simply cleansing the body. Throughout history, people have used baths and showers to symbolize spiritual renewal and relaxation. Metabathing transforms an ordinary bath into a profound healing ritual.

Brief History of Bathing 

The earliest record of bathing dates back to ancient times, when people would immerse themselves in natural hot springs for both cleansing and medicinal purposes. Bathing was seen as a way to purify the body and mind, and many cultures developed their own unique bathing rituals. 

For a more complete history of bathing, read our article here.

The Romans, for example, were famous for their elaborate bathhouses, which were used not only for hygiene but also for socializing and relaxing. The Roman Empire also had a rich history of bathing, with public baths being built as early as the 7th century BCE. These baths were used not only for cleansing but also for socializing and relaxation.

By the Middle Ages, public bathhouses had become commonplace across Europe, and were often used as social gathering places as much as they were used for hygiene. However, during the Industrial Revolution, bathing fell out of favor due to the widespread belief that cleanliness was linked to disease. 

It wasn't until the late 19th century that bathing regained popularity, thanks in part to advances in plumbing and sanitation. It wasn't until the 19th century that bathing began to be seen as a purely private activity, and by the early 20th century, home bathrooms had become standard in most Western households.

Although bathing has been around for centuries, it is only recently that people have begun to appreciate its benefits once again. Despite its long history, bathing is often overlooked as a tool for maintaining good health. But the truth is that regular baths can do wonders for your body, both inside and out.

The Bath Narrative 

Each bath can be a unique experience tailored to what you need that day. You might want to put extra emphasis on reducing stress on a given day, or maybe you are working on a creative project and need ideas, or simply have sore muscles that need relief. Whatever your needs are that day, taking a Metabath can maximize your experience. 

Pre-Bath

The pre-bath is important because it prepares your body and mind for the bath. It's a time to relax and prepare yourself for the experience ahead. To truly receive the most out of a hot bath, it is essential to focus on expanding your skin pores and stimulating circulation within the lymphatic system. This will enable you to reach optimum detoxification advantages as well as improved circulatory benefits.

The Bath 

The three pillars of The Perfect Bath are temperature, carbonation, and minerals. Temperature is key because it helps to loosen toxins and open up pores. Carbonation helps to stimulate the body's metabolism, and minerals help to detoxify and nourish the skin. All three of these pillars work together to create the perfect bath experience. The bath itself is the main event, where you soak in the water and enjoy its benefits. 

Avoiding Obesogens 

In addition to temperature, carbonation, and minerals, it is also important to avoid obesogens in your bath. Obesogens are chemicals that can disrupt your body's metabolism and lead to weight gain. They can be found in many everyday products, including personal care products like soaps and shampoos, as well as cleaning products and even some types of plastics.

To avoid obesogens in your bath, it is important to choose products that are free from harmful chemicals. Look for natural and organic options, and read labels carefully to avoid ingredients like phthalates, parabens, and triclosan. You can also consider using essential oils or other natural additives to enhance the therapeutic benefits of your bath.

By focusing on temperature, carbonation, minerals, and avoiding obesogens, you can create the perfect bath experience that not only relaxes and rejuvenates your body but also supports your overall health and well-being.

Temperature

When we think about the history of bathing, it's almost magical to be able to instantly control the temperature of our bath water. While cold showers and plunges are becoming increasingly popular because of their numerous health benefits; unfortunately, hot baths have become overlooked as an incredibly powerful healing modality.

Hot bathing is often seen as an unproductive indulgence and leisurely activity, but the advantages for promoting overall wellness are too significant not to recognize! You can heat your body up either with exertion (exercising) or passively with a hot bath or sitting in the sauna.

40% decrease in ALL CAUSE MORTALITY - This study was done with saunas, but it applies to hot baths because they're both heat therapy. Taking a hot bath several times a week could reduce your risk of the big 3: cancer, heart attack and stroke related deaths. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30275-1/fulltext

For example, sitting in a hot bath for 30 minutes burns as many calories as a 30 minute walk. https://theconversation.com/a-hot-bath-has-benefits-similar-to-exercise-74600

Another study showed that heat exposure 4 times a week would decrease the risk of heart disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27270841/

Hot baths and reduced insulin in diabetics - this study was done with hot tubs and diabetics needed less insulin after regular hot tub use. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27270841/

In a nutshell, hot baths have a positive effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular health, and cardiometabolic health. 

 

 

Bath Detoxification 

Another key is that the hot water opens up the pores and draws out toxins similarly to the heat from a sauna. Mark Sloan, author of Bath Bombs & Balneotherapy explains “We know that sweating enables our bodies to release toxic chemicals from storage within our fat cells and eliminate them through our pores. This is undoubtedly one of the many beneficial things about hot water baths, and historically why they have been so medically important.” His book is a must read, check it out here!

In addition to detoxing, we are opening up our pores to take in life giving minerals like Magnesium and trace minerals. This is why it is essential that you bathe in pure products that don’t have toxins and endocrine disruptors. Of course, purifying the water you bathe in is essential, with either a faucet filter or a whole house filtration system. 

Minerals

Bathing in hot mineral springs has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improved circulation, reduced inflammation, and relief from pain and tension. The minerals found in natural hot springs – such as sulfur, magnesium, potassium, and calcium – are known to be essential for good health. They help to support the immune system, reduce stress levels, and promote wound healing. In addition, bathing in hot mineral springs can help improve skin health by reducing inflammation and promoting collagen production.

The goal is to turn your home bath into a personal hot spring. 

CO2

By soaking in carbonated water, you can reap a variety of health benefits as the CO2 penetrates your skin and travels to your bloodstream. The carbonation helps open up pores for deeper absorption, which leads to therapeutic effects such as:

  • Increased circulation
  • Improved skin health
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Enhanced detoxification
  • Increased energy levels

Combining the increased circulation from CO2 and a pure mineral bath soak is the best of both worlds because you will rapidly absorb what's in the water.

This is why it is key to not use bath products that are full of toxins and chemicals, especially bath bombs because the CO2 drives more into your system!

Bath Bombs are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in co2 rich bath water.

Dr. Mark Sircus has fantastic content about CO2 therapy if you want to learn more about the benefits.

Post-Bath 

The post-bath is the opportunity to retain the health benefits from the pre-bath and bath. This stage consists of several therapeutic options. You could finish off with a cold shower to maximize circulation benefits. Moisturizing your skin after the bath is a good idea because a hot bath can dry out the skin. This is not necessary if you bathe with Bathing Evolved, our Renewal Bath Bombs have shea butter and coconut oil, leaving your skin nourished and moisturized when you finish the bath.  

Putting it all together 

Bathing has been practiced for centuries for good reason - it offers a multitude of benefits for both the mind and body. In order to create the perfect bath, it's important to find the right balance of temperature, carbonation, and minerals. The bath should be hot enough to loosen toxins and open pores, but not so hot that it risks burning the skin. The water should also be carbonated in order to stimulate the body's metabolism, and it should contain plenty of minerals in order to detoxify and nourish the skin. By finding the right balance between these three pillars, you can create a perfect bath for your needs.