If you're not convinced that using an infrared sauna can improve your overall health, this list of the 10 Benefits of Infrared Sauna Use might just change your mind. Chances are, if you've been doing any research, you've noticed that the list of benefits is long.
It may seem impossible that an infrared sauna could provide you with so many incredible benefits, but heat therapy has been used for centuries. The famous quote by Hippocrates, "Give me a fever, and I can cure any ailment" most certainly applies in this case. But beyond illnesses, infrared heat therapy has many additional benefits.
Benefits of Infrared Sauna Use
Weight Loss
While you may be relaxing within a sauna, your body is hard at work cooling your core temperature. You'll begin to sweat as a process to cool yourself, your heart rate and cardiac output will increase, and in order to perform these functions, your body will step-up it's metabolism.
As your metabolism increases, your body will burn more calories, which will ultimately result in weight loss.
The Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that a 30-minute infrared sauna session could burn up to 600 calories, and even though much of the initial weight loss may be water lost thru sweating (and may be regained once we rehydrate), the calories that were burned during the sauna session will result in weight loss.
By simply relaxing for 30-minutes, you can boost your overall daily calorie burn by up to 600 calories! But keep in mind, sauna use should be part of a sensible diet and exercise plan.
Cellulite Breakdown
Cellulite is simply lumps of fat, water and other toxins that are trapped beneath the skin in the subcutaneous fat layer. Cellulite is not related to obesity, and its rarely seen in men.
Regular use of an infrared sauna can help break down cellulite. In fact, in Europe, this is a common use on an infrared sauna!
They are very effective because as our blood circulation increases, the penetrating infrared rays heat our body's tissues and internal organs. Cellulite will begin to breakdown, and the trapped toxins and fat are either swept into our bloodstream for removal or released through our sweat glands.
Cardiovascular Workout
As our body works hard to cool itself, we benefit from a passive cardiovascular workout. Our heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate increases, as our diastolic blood pressure drops. The result is improved cardiovascular fitness!
The American Medical Association reported that using an infrared sauna on a regular basis, "may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning calories as regular exercise."
Even NASA concluded through their extensive research in the 1980's that the use of "infrared stimulation" was a huge benefit in maintaining cardiovascular conditioning with their astronauts.
Improved Circulation
Since our core body temperature is increased from the heat of an infrared sauna, our circulation also increases. The increased circulation floods our body's tissues with oxygen-rich blood, which nourishes our muscles and tissues with healing nutrients.
When our circulation increases, metabolic waste is also quickly moved into our bloodstream for removal. This can help improve muscle recovery and reduce inflammation and pain.
With the help of an infrared sauna, we're providing our body with the tools it needs to rapidly heal and repair itself.
Pain Relief
The deep penetrating heat provided from an infrared sauna relieves pain from muscle and soft tissue injuries by relaxing your muscles and increasing your circulation.
Arthritis, backaches, bursitis, headaches, joint stiffness and nearly any type of pain or stiffness associated with aging can all benefit from sauna use.
Those who suffer with fibromyalgia often seek relief from the constant pain during a flare-up, and many medical professionals are finding that the use of infrared saunas is a promising treatment.
You may even be able to get your insurance company to pay for an infrared sauna if your doctor recommends it's use in your treatment!
Clear Skin
If you're looking for a tool to help purify your skin, an infrared sauna works wonders. After all, who doesn't want healthier-looking skin?
Dead skin cells and deeply imbedded impurities are removed from our skin through sweating. Our body's increased circulation delivers nutrient-rich blood which helps to repair and heal our skin.
Leaving our skin with a "glowing" and youthful look. And as a bonus, it even improves the skin's elasticity!
Infrared saunas can also bring relief to conditions such as acne, psoriasis, scarring, and eczema. In addition, the healing time for cuts and burns is also reduced.
Athletic Performance
Because of the improved circulation, recovery time after an intense workout is reduced. Muscles and tissues receive nutrient-rich oxygenated blood, and lactic acid and other metabolic waste products are quickly swept away from depleted muscles.
The use of an infrared sauna is an excellent way to prevent injuries. Stepping into a sauna prior to working out can warm muscles, and stretching in a sauna can help increase your range of motion.
There have been a number of studies done by Sports Scientists that have shown improved aerobic performance in athletes. Many Olympic and professional athletes take advantage of all the benefits provided by infrared saunas to improve their overall performance.
Immune System
"Give me a fever, and I can cure any ailment" - a fever is the body's secret weapon. It's a natural defensive method to help strengthen and engage the immune system. If we're sick, our body often raises it's core temperature (fever) to rid itself of the sickness.
Toxins and wastes are eliminated by our body thru sweating, and our natural healing processes are stimulated by increasing white blood cell production.
Simply put, our body becomes a non-hospitable environment, and our immunity system builds a strong defensive wall against germs and bacteria.
Detoxification
Chemicals don't discriminate. They don't care where you live, who you are, or how much money you have. If you are exposed to toxic chemicals (and they are everywhere) your body will absorb them.
The use of an infrared sauna can make a huge difference in reducing your toxic load by helping you sweat the toxins out of your system. Highly toxic metals such as mercury, nickel, lead, and cadmium, as well as organic and inorganic compounds such as nicotine, sulfuric acid, alcohol, and environmental chemicals, can all be released by sweating.
Relaxation
No sauna benefit list would be complete without the health benefit of relaxation. Not only will spending time in your infrared sauna provide you with the opportunity to take advantage of so many health benefits, it'll also help you relax and de-stress as well as eliminate fatigue.
The penetrating heat will relieve tension throughout your body while your primary stress hormone, cortisol, will find balance. You may find your sleep improves to the point that its the best sleep you've ever experienced.
Whether you read your morning paper while taking a sauna, or you're de-stressing after a difficult and exhausting day, you'll be amazed at how good you feel after an infrared sauna session!