Does Your Body Absorb Minerals From Hot Springs? What the Science Says
There’s something special about soaking in naturally mineral-rich water. For centuries, people have sought out hot springs for the chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy the unique qualities of geothermal water.
But what actually happens when you soak? Does your skin absorb the minerals in the water? And what makes a hot spring soak feel so restorative?
The answer is a little more interesting than a simple yes or no.
At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, our geothermal waters rise to the surface through four natural springs beneath Glenwood Springs. Along their journey through the earth, the waters pick up naturally occurring minerals from the surrounding geology, creating a distinctive mineral profile that is part of what makes our hot springs unique.
What Happens When You Soak in Mineral-Rich Water?
When you sit in a hot spring pool, your skin comes into direct contact with the minerals naturally dissolved in the water. Your skin is an important protective barrier, so it doesn't absorb minerals as readily as your digestive system does.
Does your body absorb minerals from hot springs? Research continues to explore how certain minerals interact with the skin during bathing, including whether some may enter the outer layers of the skin. Exactly how much is absorbed—and the full effect on the body—remains an area of study.
So, while a soak isn't a substitute for getting essential minerals through your diet, there's something uniquely enjoyable about surrounding yourself in naturally mineral-rich geothermal water.
And the minerals aren't working alone.
Why Does a Hot Spring Soak Feel So Good?
Part of the magic of a hot spring is that several things happen at once.
Warmth, buoyancy, water pressure, and the naturally occurring minerals in the water all come together to create a deeply relaxing experience.
Heat Helps You Relax
Warm water encourages your blood vessels to widen and increases circulation near the skin and muscles. That warmth can help loosen tight muscles and create the familiar feeling of settling into a hot spring and letting the day's tension melt away.
It's one reason a soak feels especially good after hiking, skiing, traveling, or simply spending a long day on your feet.
Buoyancy Gives Your Body a Break
There's a reason you feel lighter in the water.
Buoyancy supports your body weight, taking pressure off your joints and allowing your muscles to relax. Your knees, hips, back, and other weight-bearing areas get a break while you float and soak.
Water Pressure Supports Circulation
Water creates gentle pressure around your body while you're immersed. This pressure can help support circulation, particularly in your arms and legs.
Together, heat, buoyancy, and water pressure create many of the physical benefits associated with warm-water immersion.
The Added Experience of Mineral-Rich Water
So where do the minerals fit in?
They're part of what makes a natural hot spring different from an ordinary warm-water soak.
Mineral waters develop their unique characteristics as groundwater travels through layers of rock underground. Along the way, the water picks up naturally occurring minerals before emerging at the surface.
At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, that journey happens deep beneath Glenwood Springs.
Our four natural springs produce geothermal water containing 14 naturally occurring minerals, creating a distinctive mineral profile that is part of what makes our waters unique.
Discover what's in our geothermal waters
What Minerals Are Found in Hot Springs?
Different hot springs have different mineral compositions depending on the geology beneath them. At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, our waters contain minerals including magnesium, sulfate, and iron.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays an important role in normal muscle and nerve function and is one of the minerals most commonly associated with mineral bathing.
Sulfate
Sulfate occurs naturally in many mineral waters and has long been part of traditional bathing practices.
Iron
Iron is one of the defining minerals in our geothermal waters—and it's even part of our name. The iron-rich geology of the area is part of what makes Glenwood Springs' hot springs so distinctive.
Together, these minerals create the naturally mineral-rich water that makes a geothermal soak at Iron Mountain a little different from your average hot tub.
A Closer Look at Magnesium and Potassium Soaking
Want to explore individual minerals?
At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, our Sauna Summit features dedicated Magnesium and Potassium pools, giving guests another way to experience mineral-focused soaking.
These pools are part of a larger contrast therapy experience where you can move between warm and cold water, sauna heat, and relaxation.
Explore Sauna Summit and our hot springs pools
Why Combine Hot and Cold Water?
There's a reason contrast therapy has become a favorite recovery ritual.
Moving between warm and cold water creates noticeable changes in your body's response to temperature. Warm water encourages blood vessels to widen, while cold water causes them to narrow.
At Sauna Summit, you can build your own rhythm of heat, cold, soaking, and rest.
And after spending time in the warmth, that first cool plunge can be surprisingly invigorating.
The result? You leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, and ready to do it all over again.
More Than Just the Minerals
Here's the thing about a hot spring: you don't have to choose one reason to love it.
It's the warmth of the water.
The feeling of weightlessness.
The mineral-rich geothermal water surrounding you.
The Colorado sunshine.
The mountain views.
The opportunity to slow down for a while.
And maybe most importantly, the chance to step away from everything else and simply soak.
The science supports many of the physical effects of warm-water immersion, while the experience itself is something you have to feel for yourself.
Experience Mineral-Rich Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs
At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, you can experience 16 geothermal pools, naturally mineral-rich water, dedicated magnesium and potassium pools, and the heat-and-cold experiences of Sauna Summit.
Come for the hot springs. Stay for the feeling.
Take your time. Move between pools. Try something new. Find your favorite temperature. And let the water do what hot springs have always done best: give you a reason to slow down.