New research suggests the Dead Sea can do wonders not only for your skin, but for diabetes patients as well.

A recent study published by Ben Gurion university shows that a single dip in Dead Sea water reduces blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes patients by 13.5 per cent.

Fourteen diabetes patients aged between 18 and 65 years and a control group of six healthy subjects participated in the study.

The participants soaked in a pool of heated Dead Sea water for 20 minutes, and immediately afterwards had a blood test.

The researchers compared the results with those of tests taken after participants swam in a normal heated swimming pool and found that after going in the salty water there was a significant decrease in blood glucose levels.

The researchers note that a larger study is needed to support the findings.

If true, the findings would provide another reason to crown the Dead Sea one of the new seven wonders of nature, in the global competition set to conclude this Friday. The Dead Sea is currently among the ten finalists.

Environmentalists in Israel hope that the nomination will give a boost to conservation efforts of the rapidly shrinking sea. Since the 1970s, the Dead Sea has lost three feet of water every year.