A study recently performed by Israeli researchers and presented in Haaretz, an Israeli daily newspaper, has shown that a 20-minute swim in the Dead Sea could aid diabetics in lowering their blood sugar levels.

The research team was composed of scientists from Ben Gurion University and Soroka Medical Centre of Beersheva. Both are located in the Negev desert in Israel, according to Haaretz.

The study analyzed 14 people who had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, ranging in age from 18 to 65. Results showed that, after sitting in a pool of water taken from the Dead Sea for a full 20 minutes, the patients showed a significant decrease in their blood sugar levels.

Their blood glucose dropped 13.5 percent on average, from 163 milligrams per deciliter to 151mg/dl. Being submerged in the water for an hour caused a further reduction in glucose levels, to 141.3 mg/dl.

Researchers noted that the salty soak did not seem to have any negative side effects on other important characteristics of blood, including insulin levels, c-peptide or levels of cortisone hormones.

The researchers used a control group of six healthy participants, who did not show any changes in their blood glucose levels when exposed to the Dead Sea water for the same amount of time.

Professor Shaul Sukenik led the research team at Ben Gurion University. He said that the results were promising. “In the event that the findings are confirmed in further studies, a drop in blood glucose levels will allow diabetics who bathe in the Dead Sea to use less medication,” said Sukenik in an interview with Haaretz. “We cannot determine this on the basis of the current study, but the findings do suggest this,” he said.

Now that the team has established a possible link between a bath in the Dead Sea and lowered blood glucose levels, they are attempting to secure funding to conduct additional testing and determine whether a daily soak across a three week period would have an even greater effect.

Dr. Sukenik’s research team will publish its findings in HaRefua, the journal of the Israel Medical Association. It is unlikely that a swim in the Dead Sea, even if conducted daily over a period of several weeks, could replace insulin injections or frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels. However, any treatment method that can ease the burden on Type 2 diabetics is worth researching.

Swimming in the Dead Sea is a tradition in Israel, where locals and tourists alike flock to enjoy a relaxing soak. The high salt content of the water — much higher than that of the ocean — means that it’s hard to actually swim, and “floating” is a more accurate description. Many believe that the waters are rich in nutrients and minerals and thus offer healing properties. Additionally, the low pollen and allergen content of the area, along with high atmospheric pressure and reduced ultraviolet component of the sun’s rays have made it a popular spot for treatment of many conditions.

Some of the therapies used at the Dead Sea include thalassotherapy (bathing in seawater for healthful benefits), heliotherapy (using the sun’s rays as a type of treatment), and climatotherapy (using the climatic characteristics of an area, such as barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity as treatment). Some other conditions that are frequently treated at the Dead Sea include cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and rhinosinusitis.