Soaking up the bath benefits..

SURE, having a bath can be relaxing and ease an aching body, but scientists report that it really can have measurable effects on reducing your overall stress levels.

- Here JAMES MOORE

Immersing yourself in hot water lowers levels of the hormone cortisol in the body by as much as 22%, according to one study, naturally reducing tension and anxiety.

And scientists at the University of Freiburg in Germany found it could even help people suffering with depression.

In tests of 45 subjects, they identified that those who regularly took a regular soak in 40C water for up to 30 minutes scored better for their mood levels after eight weeks than those who didn't.

In fact, it’s thought baths could be as good as exercise for helping symptoms by helping to restore the body’s natural circadian rhythms, which can be disrupted by depression.