If you are considering part of your “New year, new me” mission to buy a sauna, you have probably heard about all the amazing infrared sauna benefits you can achieve by using it regularly.
We are talking about everything from weight loss to anti-aging and more. Sauna therapy, which includes infrared, is an ancient method of detoxifying and healing the body, mind, and spirit.
The main benefit that saunas provide is its ability to help the body detox. This detoxing process can easily be achieved by simply sitting in a sauna and as you relax, your body flushes away harmful toxins. Soaking in a sauna, especially an infrared sauna, can remove more toxins than any other method of detoxification.
The human body was designed to detox to a certain degree on its own. Unfortunately, today we are constantly exposed to so many more toxins than ever before in the history of humanity. Therefore, it is vital for us to practice effortless detox methods on a regular basis.
Everybody loves saunas because they are super relaxing, safe and make you feel amazing. Also, it’s hard to forget that saunas are responsible for activating the body’s greatest detox organ, and that is our skin!
Throughout history, humans have practiced sauna therapy as a safe and effective means of detoxification. For instance, Native Americans have been using sweat lodges for centuries and the Finnish were the pioneers of saunas with their wood fire cabins that have been in use for over 2,000 years.
Regular sauna use is so great for your health. Here are eight infrared sauna benefits that will impress you so much, you just might decide to go out and buy a sauna as soon as you finish reading this.
Maximum Stress Release
One of the biggest benefits of a sauna are that they are well-known stress fighters. All of us need this in our lives since sugar, coffee, lack of sleep, stressed adrenals, and toxic chemical exposure has left most of us in a sympathetic “fight or flight” state. Regular sauna use helps our bodies enter a parasympathetic state, which lets us de-stress, digest, rest, and heal.
Balances Out Hormones
When you manage to reduce your stress levels, you also reduce stress hormones such as cortisol. When the body’s cortisol levels are well-balanced, thyroid, insulin, DHEA, testosterone, and estrogen are also maintained at perfect equilibrium. As a matter of fact, progesterone levels can hike up the body’s cortisol in a healthy range. Saunas encourage the adrenals to secrete aldosterone, which helps maintain electrolytes in balance as well.
Get Super Strengths
Using a sauna can make you feel like you’ve got super healing powers! Several studies reveal that near-infrared saunas can greatly improve tissue and wound healing, including retinal injury.
A study showed that mice who were blinded by chemicals had their eyesight damaged completely reversed because of near-infrared therapy. Furthermore, Finnish and German studies found that saunas can lower the incidence of cold and flu by around 30%.
Reduce The Signs Of Aging
Near-infrared saunas are the modern-day fountain of youth. They lower the signs of aging and help the skin become healthier and younger-looking. The red light triggers collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin help tighten and firm the skin which can also help ease stretch marks and cellulite.
When you sweat, you can also enhance skin cell turnover. It can get rid of bacteria from the skin, which helps with acne and improves skin health. Furthermore, near-infrared saunas are proven to lower inflammation, which eases skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema.
Lose Weight Easily
The new year brings resolutions for losing weight. Saunas are great for weight loss since they can increase heart rate while reducing blood pressure and increasing oxygenation and metabolic rate. These physiological effects are identical to cardio exercise.
A study with female participants who rode stationary bicycles showed a 444% increase in weight loss for those who were exposed to near-infrared light compared to the group who only exercised.
It is astonishing and great to know that far infrared heat can burn more than 600 calories in a 30-minute session. Also, near-infrared saunas can assist in weight loss since they trigger human growth hormones which keep us young and fit.
Better Circulation and Oxygenation
When you relax in a hot sauna, the body’s temperature starts to increase. As a result, the blood vessels begin to dilate, which raises blood flow and the body’s circulation throughout. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to all of the body’s tissues and helps them heal.
Research has shown that infrared therapy recharges mitochondria, which signifies that it is getting as far as cellular level and does a good job at increasing energy as well as stamina.
Prevent Heart Disease
Saunas are said to reduce blood pressure, increase oxygenation and circulation, which all support heart health. Research shows saunas are less likely than exercise to result in cardiac incidents in men who have underlying heart conditions.
Nevertheless, saunas are just as potent at increasing cardiac output as exercise, which makes saunas an ideal alternative for individuals with some heart conditions that cannot exercise because it could be potentially harmful to their health.
Alleviates Medical Conditions
Saunas have proven to help alleviate symptoms that are linked to depression, autoimmune disease, and chronic pain as well as fatigue. Also, if you suffer from chronic tension headaches, regular sauna use can help you. Furthermore, sauna therapy can reduce pain and fatigue that usually goes hand in hand with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Furthermore, sauna treatments have been used to support various cancer treatments. There have been studies that show high temperatures can eliminate cancer cells, without harming normal cells and body tissue.
Far infrared therapy prevents the growth of solid tumor cells. Another study found that the use of hyperthermia on its own resulted in total overall response rates of 13%.
By using hyperthermia, and other treatment modalities, have revealed significant improvements in tumors of the head, neck, breast, brain, bladder, cervix, rectum, lung, esophagus, vulva and vagina, and also for melanoma.