Life can be stressful. You need to have a special place to take a break. An infrared sauna session can be your daily escape. You owe it to you and your health.
An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infrared light experienced as radiant heat which is absorbed by the surface of the skin. Traditional saunas heat the body primary by conduction and convection from the heated air and by radiation of the heated surfaces in the sauna room.
Health benefit claims
Arthritis/Pain relief
A study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed a reduction in pain, stiffness and fatigue during infrared sauna therapy.
Heat therapy penetrates deep into the muscle tissue relieving aches, pain, stiffness and muscle spasms. In addition, by stimulating peripheral blood vessels and enhancing the body’s delivery of oxygen to joints and extremities, it is believed to speed the healing of sprains and strains relieving pain and reducing the time it takes the body to recover from an injury. Sauna therapy is also recommended by many therapists and physicians to treat inflammation and chronic pain like that experienced by individuals with lyme disease and fibromyalgia
Toxins/Detoxification
We live in a world where we are overpowered by toxins and pollutants. Almost everything we eat, drink or breathe has toxins and pollutants in it. As a result our bodies are constantly trying to detoxify but cannot keep up. Therefore, we store toxins until we can dispose of them. Eventually our bodies get overpowered, shut down and we get sick. Infrared heat penetrates 3 inches into the body increasing blood circulation and cellular activity. It stimulates a fever causing the immune system to spring into action. As our heart rate increases and we start to sweat, toxins are released from our organs and cells and dispersed from our body through the skin. The skin is our largest organ, eliminating waste through perspiration. Heat causes toxins to be released from your organs and cells into the lymphatic fluid. Since sweat is manufactured lymphatic fluid, the toxins from the lymph are released when your body perspires. The infrared technology allows for removal of the toxins stored in our organs and cells. Therefore, detoxifying can help us be healthier, live longer and enhance our quality of life. You will feel cleansed and energized after your session. Detoxifying is a very important health benefit from an infrared sauna.
Saunas may be useful to those who cannot sweat from exercise due to their health problems, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. See our video on saunas and detoxification.
Boost Immune System
By creating an “Artificial Fever”, infrared heat has a positive effect on the immune system. Often misunderstood, fever is a natural healing response of the body. The function of the immune system is increased naturally during a fever, while virus and bacterial growth is slowed, weakening its hold. This helps the body ward off invading organisms. Treating the early stages of a cold or flu with a sauna session has been known to decrease the effects before they occur. Overall, you will feel healthier for a longer period of time and will be more resistant to illness and disease. Our immune system keeps us running at our peak so we must keep it strong.
Skin
Sauna use has many positive benefits for our skin. It releases our skin of many of the toxins that accumulate as a result of chemical-laden soaps, conditioners, makeup, etc that we use. The increased blood circulation to the skin brings more nutrients to the surface, thus promoting healthy tone and texture. A sauna session provides a mild cleansing of the skin, and is becoming more prevalent in treating acne and scaring on the face. It opens pores that have been clogged to release the debris, and the warmth of the infrared heat will gradually soften scars on the body. The appearance of your skin reveals a lot about you, so why not have it look smooth and healthy.
Energy expenditure and weight loss
Some infrared sauna proponents claim that the sauna is an effective method for considerably raising the rate of energy expenditure in the body. Proponents typically quote the Journal of the American Medical Association stating: “A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal, which is equivalent to running 2–3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600–800 kcal with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water loss can be regained by drinking water, the calories consumed will not be.”[5][6]
Why is a session in the sauna equivalent to running 2-3 miles? Your body is hard at work trying to maintain a constant core temperature. This speeds up the metabolic process of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in substantial caloric loss in a sauna session. Even though your body may be hard at work you feel calm and rejuvenated. So just relax and lose weight. Sorry, we can’t say no sweat.
Cellulite
Sauna sessions will help reduce the unattractive look of cellulite on the body. Cellulite is a gel-like substance that is formed from fat, waste, and water build ups. These substances get trapped in fat like pockets underneath the skin creating the unsightly appearance of cellulite. Sweating will clear this form of unwanted debris from your body by exfoliating it through the skin. Sauna sessions are effective in cellulite removal when used in conjunction with a program that includes diet and massage.
Blood Circulation
During a sauna session, the heart rate increases providing mild cardiovascular conditioning. The thermal effect within the deep layers of the tissues causes blood vessels and capillaries to dilate, promoting better blood circulation.
Heat tolerance
Only if the sauna uses far-infrared technology, the sauna might be more tolerated by patients who don’t tolerate the high temperatures of the standard humid hot air saunas. This is because far-infrared rays do not heat the air inside the sauna, but they still heat the body.[4] However, most infrared saunas in the market do not use the expensive far-infrared panels, which can be touched because they remain always cold, but much cheaper low and medium-infrared heaters, which remain very hot when used and also heat the air of the sauna.
Energy expenditure and weight loss
Some infrared sauna proponents claim that the sauna is an effective method for considerably raising the rate of energy expenditure in the body. Proponents typically quote the Journal of the American Medical Association stating: “A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal, which is equivalent to running 2–3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600–800 kcal with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water loss can be regained by drinking water, the calories consumed will not be.”[5][6]
Why is a session in the sauna equivalent to running 2-3 miles? Your body is hard at work trying to maintain a constant core temperature. This speeds up the metabolic process of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in substantial caloric loss in a sauna session. Even though your body may be hard at work you feel calm and rejuvenated. So just relax and lose weight. Sorry, we can’t say no sweat.
Cellulite
Sauna sessions will help reduce the unattractive look of cellulite on the body. Cellulite is a gel-like substance that is formed from fat, waste, and water build ups. These substances get trapped in fat like pockets underneath the skin creating the unsightly appearance of cellulite. Sweating will clear this form of unwanted debris from your body by exfoliating it through the skin. Sauna sessions are effective in cellulite removal when used in conjunction with a program that includes diet and massage.
Blood Circulation
During a sauna session, the heart rate increases providing mild cardiovascular conditioning. The thermal effect within the deep layers of the tissues causes blood vessels and capillaries to dilate, promoting better blood circulation.
Heat tolerance
Only if the sauna uses far-infrared technology, the sauna might be more tolerated by patients who don’t tolerate the high temperatures of the standard humid hot air saunas. This is because far-infrared rays do not heat the air inside the sauna, but they still heat the body.[4] However, most infrared saunas in the market do not use the expensive far-infrared panels, which can be touched because they remain always cold, but much cheaper low and medium-infrared heaters, which remain very hot when used and also heat the air of the sauna.