Sauna Health Benefits

It’s easier said than done, but the fact remains that stress is a major part of everyday life. There is always something new to stress about, whether it be traffic, your career or family, to name a few. 

Being under this constant pressure has negative effects on the body that can affect your health, and particularly your heart. It would be wise to find a healthy way to relieve this stress. 

Some people find relief in physical exercise, like jogging or swimming. Yoga is another great tool when trying to find a way to relax. An article in the American Heart Association by Dr. Glenn Levine proposes meditation as a way to reduce stress in patients and lower the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. It is a safe and low-cost activity that could bring many health benefits to your life.

Have you tried traditional saunas before and couldn’t bear how hot it was? Thankfully nowadays there’s another option: infrared saunas. 

These use infrared waves to transfer heat directly to your body without drastically modify the air temperature as much as a traditional sauna would. Some studies have shown that infrared saunas can help with chronic problems such as high blood pressure by promoting blood vessel dilation, decreasing overall cardiovascular risk.

Infrared saunas can also help patients with congestive heart failure, where treatment is sometimes limited. There are also no reported side effects with infrared treatment, so why not consider implementing one in your daily today?

Visit your doctor

One of the most important things to do to maintain a healthy heart is to go to your doctor for regular checkups.  A doctor can determine cardiovascular risk on an individual basis and recommend any necessary lifestyle changes. It’s always important to consult with your doctor when determining what path would be the best to follow for maintaining a long-lasting, healthy heart.

Get a jump start on your cardiovascular health by adding a personal infrared sauna to your home today!

Do Infrared Saunas Help You Lose Weight?

Infrared saunas are not a stand-alone weight loss machine, but they can be used in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet as a catalyst to reach your goals. Anyone who claims that an infrared sauna is all you need, should be treated with caution.

Yes, you may see some weight loss after one session, but what you lost is mostly water weight. This short-term weight loss will more than likely be replenished once you start drinking water again immediately after your session. (We recommend drinking a glass of water prior to entering the sauna, a glass during, and follow up with another post-sweat. Electrolyte drinks can be substituted as well.) It is highly important to rehydrate yourself after using your infrared sauna. Unless you are also maintaining a balanced diet and consistent exercise, even 100 sauna sessions will not help you burn actual fat.

Based on a study published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, women who suffer from obesity were tested with near infrared low-level laser therapy in combination with exercise to help lessen their cardiometabolic risk In this research, they combined a form of infrared therapy with exercise, more specifically aerobic exercise with resistance training. 

By doing so, the women who participated experienced a, “…decrease in neck and waist circumferences; percentual of fat; [and] visceral fat area…”. In short: Yes, infrared saunas can help you lose weight when you integrate your sessions with a healthy lifestyle regimen.

During your weight loss journey while using an infrared sauna, you may notice other increased benefits that can increase weight loss:

• Increased blood flow: Saunas have been proven to increase tissue repair and blood flow which brings more nutrients and oxygen to your muscles. This leads to a faster recovery after exercise.
• Boosted metabolism: An increase in core body temperature can boost metabolism for the time that you are in the sauna session as well as up to 60 minutes after.
• Improved mental health: Infrared sauna wavelengths increase the brain’s serotonin levels and endorphins. Dedicating at least 30 minutes a day can elevate and relax your mood. When you feel better about yourself mentally, it likely can result in more weight loss.