Your body burns calories and flushes out all the unwanted toxins through sweating. Apart from exercising, the best way to sweat is by visiting a sauna. With a regular sauna routine, you’re bound to experience numerous health benefits.
Although a traditional sauna will definitely improve your overall health, infrared saunas are particularly good for you because their radiant heat penetrates your skin more deeply. Following are some of the most notable health benefits to be reaped from getting your very own infrared sauna.
Weight Loss
Infrared saunas are a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to shed a few extra pounds. During a half-hour session, you will burn anywhere from 200 to 600 calories. Remember that you will be sweating a lot during this weight loss process. That said, it’s extremely important to rehydrate before, during, and after a sauna session.
By penetrating the skin deeply, infrared saunas increase your metabolic rate. Sauna sessions alone, however, don't produce immediate weight loss results. By incorporating regular sauna sessions with proper diet and regular exercise, you will reach your desired weight in no time.
Detoxification
Every type of sauna induces you to sweat, helping you release toxins from your body. When it comes to infrared saunas, the sweat emanates from deeper inside your body. This means that the sweating will be much more profuse than when using a traditional sauna. Therefore, you are able to expunge many more toxins. In fact, you will eliminate seven times more toxins during an infrared sauna session.
Improved Circulation
Infrared causes your core body temperature to rise, consequently improving your body’s circulation. In fact, infrared can stimulate your blood flow up to two times its normal rate. Improved circulation means that your muscles will recover from your workout much quicker, and you’ll start experiencing a decrease in pain and inflammation.
Furthermore, medical experts consider infrared sauna therapy as “passive cardio” because the infrared heat generated by the sauna raises your heart rate to levels usually achieved by physical exercise. Apart from boosting circulation, infrared saunas are also effective in lowering your blood pressure.
Smoother Skin
It comes as no surprise that your skin will start glowing after a few sauna sessions, considering the amount of toxins eliminated from the body. Sweating clears your pores as toxins from beneath and within your skin are removed.
Fight Off a Cold
If you’re feeling like you’re about to catch a cold, then you should visit your nearest infrared sauna the first chance you get. Infrared saunas will stimulate your circulation and increase the production of white blood cells, which are the cells of the immune system tasked with protecting your body from foreign invaders and infectious disease. In other words, by going to regular infrared sauna sessions, your body will be more prepared to fight off a cold or a flu.
Reduced Stress Levels
If you have a lot on your plate every day, then you’re probably stressed out more than you should be. It can be very hard to balance work, family, and friends, and keep a cool head. Nevertheless, you need to do whatever it takes to make sure that you’re relaxing as much as you can throughout the day, since stress can lead to a number of health problems. One of the best ways to kick back and relax is to enjoy a sauna session.
There are many health benefits which will unfold before your eyes once you get your very own infrared sauna. If you’re new to infrared saunas, then you should start out with sessions that last just a few minutes, and gradually work up to 20-minute sessions.
Sources:
Dr. Brian Clement on Infrared Saunas and Detoxification, Mercola.com
6 Reasons to Put Infrared Saunas on Your Must-do List, BeWell.com