Why Real Men (and Women) Take Baths
John Wayne took baths.
“You ever seen a man who didn't like to take a bath?”
This was the question posed by John Wayne, the most iconic American actor of all time. Wayne is widely praised for his manliness: ruggedness, toughness and a lack of sentimentality. He was the embodiment of an idealized Western masculinity that many men admire and aspire towards. And yet, he spent much time in his life taking baths.
And he's hardly alone; many other celebrated figures throughout history have also enjoyed occasional soaks. Winston Churchill took as many as four or five baths per day on occasion—though this may be more information than you need to know about him—and even George Washington grew quite fond of them after hearing how they improved health and vitality when traveling in Finland during his military service.
Recover from exercise with a bath.
A warm bath can be very beneficial post-workout. Studies have shown that soaking in a warm bath can help relax your muscles, and that the warmth improves circulation as well, making it easier for your body to recover more quickly. If you're someone who has a tendency to wake up sore after a particularly grueling work-out the day before, try soaking in the tub before bed. Your muscles will thank you. And if you're someone who struggles with insomnia, take note: this effect of relaxation can also help you sleep better at night, which means less tossing and turning between the sheets (and increased muscle recovery).
For added benefit, swirl in a few tablespoons of our Recovery CBD Salt Bath made with hand-harvested, french grey sea salt, Epsom salt, and our hemp CBD to help soak away aches and pains.
Milk is for more than cereal.
Now it may seem strange to consider adding milk to your bath, but hear me out before you discount this idea entirely: milk proteins are an extremely effective way to moisturize your skin and keep it from getting dry or damaged. Beyond that, cream derived from animal sources contains all sorts of skin-friendly substances (like lactic acid), so daily application can help reduce acne and cleanse pores. Of course these factors aren’t enough to convince everyone—every person's skin is different—but for a lot of people it makes sense to include one or two milks in their arsenal if they suffer from dry skin or find it difficult to deal with blemished patches.
Ready to give it a try? Dissolve a few tablespoons of our Serenity CBD Milk Bath, made with buttermilk powder, oats, clay and baking soda combined with our hemp CBD, for a luxurious, skin-conditioning bath.
You can soak your way to calm, pain relief and better sleep.
The thought of slipping into a warm bath is soothing in itself. But what if that tub could also help you sleep better, cleanse your skin and even relieve muscle soreness?
Research shows that baths may do all of those things and more. A 2016 study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that an hour-long bath reduced stress, depression and anxiety while improving overall feelings of well-being. Another study, published in Experimental Biology, found that bathing had beneficial effects on blood sugar levels and insulin resistance—the body's inability to use insulin properly—in men with type 2 diabetes.
Even if you don't suffer from diabetes or feel anxious, consider adding a soak to your evening routine for better sleep, pain relief or just some quiet me time. Turns out, John Wayne was right– real men (and women) do take baths, and for good reason!
