Saunas, commonly referred to as hot air baths have always been a popular thing not only among the elites but among all members of the society for as far as the human history stretches to. The practice began centuries ago and is still going strong. In fact, modern technology is now taking over it and we now have infrared saunas which are not only a great way to pass time and unwind but also pack a punch of incredible health benefits. If you are planning to begin going to or buying one of today’s best infrared saunas, then you’ll be glad to know that the benefits are not only blabbed by mainstream media but have been tested and proven to be true by science. Read on to learn about the benefits of an infrared sauna and also how they work.
How does an infrared sauna work?
It uses high tech devices which deliver a far-infrared electromagnetic radiation light wave directly to the bodies of those within the room. Therefore, no bands are required and neither does it start by heating the air around you like conventional saunas instead the light wave focuses on your body. That is why the therapeutic effects of infrared saunas are felt and realized faster because you don’t have to wait until they reach uncomfortably hot levels for your body to begin reaping them like it is in the case of the traditional types.
Benefits of an infrared sauna
Relaxation
This is one of the main and the most obvious benefits of an infrared sauna. It is also the primary reason why people go to saunas. After a hectic day at the office or after a long week at work, sitting in an infrared sauna helps balance the stress hormone known as cortisol thus helping you relax and keep your problems at bay [1].
Weight loss
When your body temperature increases, the heart rate also increases as your body tried to cool itself naturally. However, that is not easy because the temperature is quite high and as such it requires an extra supply of energy. For this, it breaks down stored up fats which often aids in weight loss. According to various studies, sitting in an infrared sauna for half an hour can help you burn up to 600 calories. It is no surprise it is referred to as passive cardio.
Improves cardiovascular functions
Infrared saunas have been nicknamed as passive cardio by various research bodies such as Harvard. This means that they increase your body temperature prompting your metabolic system to get in action and try to cool itself. This often results to a series of other metabolic responses such as increased heart rate and cardiac output at the same intensity which a normal workout would. All these changes often result to a drop in diastolic blood pressure hence helping you achieve lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health because now your heart is able to pump blood efficiently to all your body parts without straining. In addition and as shown above, infrared saunas also aid in weight loss which means they help normalize cholesterol levels and keep you safe from cardiovascular conditions which arise from being overweight such as congestive heart failure.
Detoxification
We all know that the human body uses the pores in the skin to flush out toxins through sweating. After sitting in an infrared sauna for several minutes, the first thing that you will notice besides an increase in body temperature is that you’ll be sweating profusely. That shouldn’t stress you out, in fact, you should be happy about it because your body is undergoing a detoxification process without you having to undergo special procedures or complicated diets. Additionally, infrared saunas achieve this effect faster than the wet and hot traditional saunas thus helping you eliminate more toxins.
Cellulite breakdown
Yes, yes we know this one might be hard to believe but an infrared sauna actually helps you get that summer body by breaking down cellulite. You see cellulite are just lumps of fat which are trapped beneath the subcutaneous layer. And because the electromagnetic light waves radiation of an infrared sauna penetrate up to 3 inches of your skin they help break down these fat lumps leaving your body looking like that of a TV model. Cellulite is common among women but men are no exception as they sometimes get it but going to an infrared sauna every once in a while say once in a week will help you eliminate this problem.
Eases joint inflammation and sore muscles
Conditions such as arthritis can be nerve-wracking as they cause one to be uncomfortable and are also painful. What’s even worse is that the therapies and prescriptions often take time before they can take effect. Fortunately, people suffering from such conditions now have a reason to smile because infrared saunas help ease the inflammation. By increasing and improving blood circulation to the inflamed parts of the body, the radiation often triggers the release of protective nitric oxide and mitochondria function which helps soothe inflammation. It also increases the flow of nutrients like glucose and amino acids to the muscles hence removing lactic acid and any other byproducts which often cause sore muscles.
Better looking and glowing skin
Do you struggle with acne problems? Well, we are also glad to let you know that you don’t need to break a bank to get youthful and glowing skin because sitting for thirty to sixty minutes in an infrared sauna will leave your skin looking all soft and youthful. It achieves that in various ways. The first one is by flushing out toxins. One of the main causes of acne is increased toxins and by sweating these toxins are flushed out reducing sebum beneath the skin and as such leaving zero chances of acne.
It also improves blood circulation to the skin thus enabling the delivery of essential nutrients which make the skin look better. Lastly but not least it boosts the production of collagen which is responsible for making the skin supple and elastin which makes it elastic. When you combine all these factors, you end up with a skin that is not only free from acne but also one that’s free from conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
