In case you haven’t heard, infrared saunas are the latest hot topic in the health and fitness community (no pun intended).
Why Sauna?
Infrared saunas help your body rid itself of toxins like mercury, lead, and other environmental chemicals. On top of its detoxification benefits, infrared saunas can aid in weight loss, relaxation, pain relief and even keep your skin looking healthy and young!
This makes perfect sense from an ancestral point of view. Early humans experienced full spectrum sunlight daily; it was how they healed themselves apart from eating a Paleo diet and regular movement. Our ancestors would receive sunlight and passively sweat, detoxifying and relaxing their nervous system at the same time.
In our modern world, we are exposed to chemicals in food, EMF from our electronic devices, and many other environmental factors that keep us in a stressful state, preventing our bodies from restoring themselves like they used to. Exposure to full spectrum light on the bare body is something we can mimic in an infrared sauna in order to achieve the optimal health and healing properties ancestral humans had.
What Is An Infrared Sauna?
Instead of heating up a stove like a traditional sauna, an infrared sauna uses infrared light waves to create heat within your body without heating up the room around you. It is a great alternative for those who cannot stand the heat and humidity of a traditional sauna room.
Here are just a few of the health benefits of infrared sauna use:
Detoxification
Infrared saunas help flush out toxins from our bodies. In today’s world our immune systems face toxins that did not exist for our ancestors, including pesticides, toxic metals, PCBs in plastics, and environmental pollution. Several studies have shown infrared sauna use increases detoxification and lowers the levels of toxins in our bodies. Through sweating we can rid our bodies of such toxins and infrared saunas help us sweat at a much faster rate!
Heart Health
According to recent research, sitting in an infrared sauna is linked to a reduced risk of numerous cardiovascular diseases. Infrared sauna therapy increases heart rate, blood flow and improves blood pressure to treat congestive heart failure and similar cardiovascular conditions.
Weight Loss
Resting in an infrared sauna can actually help you lose weight! Infrared saunas increase your internal temperature in a similar way to working out. Researchers explain that since your body has an increased heart rate while working to cool itself, you’re burning extra calories. In fact, you can burn between 400 to 600 calories in a 30-minute infrared sauna session.
Fitness
Infrared saunas can improve your athletic performance and endurance. Athletes who use saunas post-workout expel the waste that accumulates in their bodies during the workout. During an infrared sauna session, your blood carries any buildup to your skin for removal. Studies also show that infrared saunas help your neuromuscular system recover faster.
Pain Relief
Studies have found that infrared sauna therapy helps decrease pain, arthritic stiffness, and fatigue. More specifically, infrared saunas are effective in reducing chronic pain, and any pain caused by inflammation.
Anti-aging
Infrared sauna treatment can help keep you looking young and healthy! Near infrared light waves increase collagen and elastin in skin, which improve skin texture, decrease roughness, and leave you with less wrinkles. It can also promote healing and reduce scarring.
Reduces Stress
Reclining in an infrared sauna not only lets you relax your muscles but can also help depression and mood disorders by increasing the body’s ability to relax. Infrared saunas induce relaxation by balancing your cortisol levels, the body’s main stress hormone.