Infrared saunas are now popular as more people discover their many wellness benefits. An infrared sauna uses infrared light waves to heat the body directly rather than heating the air around you like a traditional sauna.
The concentrated infrared waves penetrate the skin and muscle tissue deeply, raising your core body temperature and inducing a deep, detoxifying sweat in a comfortable and dry environment. Regular use of an infrared sauna provides a variety of advantages for your health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
Let’s learn more about its benefits in this article.
Feeling the heat of an infrared sauna helps your blood vessels expand and improve circulation throughout your body. This decreases the effort your heart needs to pump blood, giving it a bit of a break.
The improved blood flow also allows oxygen and nutrients to be delivered more easily to your cells while clearing away waste. Your cardiovascular system functions better with less strain. Those looking to reduce blood pressure or improve heart health will surely appreciate these benefits!
Using the sauna a few times weekly boosts circulation in a way that nourishes your whole body. Your heart can take it easy as blood flows freely through dilated vessels. Just lie back and let your body enjoy the benefits! Your heart will thank you.
Sweating is the body’s built-in cleansing system, and the infrared sauna helps you sweat out toxins from deep within your tissues. Things like heavy metals, BPA, phthalates, and other nasty chemicals gradually build up inside over years of exposure. The deep sweat induced in the sauna provides the liquid power wash your system needs to purge impurities.
Studies show that sauna users have fewer chronic fatigue symptoms and improved immune response. The gentle infrared heat produces an artificial fever effect that research indicates can give your immune system a boost.
Think of the sauna as providing your insides with thorough de-gunking. Clearing out accumulated crud allows cells to operate optimally again. Your body’s defenses strengthen over time as inflammation caused by toxins goes down. It’s like hitting the reset button for your immune system. Some deep sweating gives your health a clean slate!
The penetrating infrared rays provide natural, drug-free pain relief by targeting tense muscles, joints, and nerves. The heat relaxes tight tissues, increases circulation to damaged areas, and reduces inflammation-causing hormones. For those suffering from arthritis, injuries, fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches, and more, the soothing infrared waves can offer some sweet relief when medications fail.
The heat loosens up tight, achy muscles and reduces nerve pressure. Blood flow increases to nourish affected areas so they can heal better. For those with chronic conditions like arthritis, regular sauna use may provide a healthy way to manage pain and increase mobility. The warmth emanating from those infrared bulbs has healing powers!
Are there risks with using Infrared saunas?
Risks include getting heat issues like hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Other dangers include using an infrared sauna with certain health conditions or illnesses such as heart disease, adrenal suppression, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and eczema.
In addition to purifying your body from the inside out through sweating, infrared sauna use also provides skin cleansing and rejuvenation benefits. The warm temperatures open your pores and allow your skin to eliminate toxins, chemicals, and impurities. Your pores are cleansed deeply to remove dirt, oil, makeup, and dead skin cells.
Increased circulation from the heat also plumps your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The intense sweating unclogs hair follicles and clears up acne, eczema, and psoriasis flare-ups. Overall, your skin will look clearer with a healthy glow.
Aside from detoxing your inner body, infrared saunas also provide a deep cleanse for your largest organ – your skin! The heat unclogs pores and frees trapped dirt, debris, makeup, and impurities. Your sweat acts as a natural cleanser. An infrared sauna provides superior skin purification compared to washing alone. You’ll see cleared acne, even tone and texture, minimize pores, healthy color, and an overall radiant glow.
Using an infrared sauna offers both physical and mental health perks. The relaxing heat provides stress relief as your mind and body unwind. You’ll feel rejuvenated after a sauna session. The artificial fever effect enhances the endorphins released in your brain to boost your mood naturally.
Infrared heat also stimulates the production of serotonin levels in your brain, which is your “happy hormone.” With regular use, many people report elevated moods, lower anxiety levels, and an overall greater sense of well-being. The mental health benefits are enhanced when combining sauna use with meditation or deep breathing exercises.
A session in the infrared sauna will melt away your stress and tension, a comforting heat that soothes your mind as your muscles release physical knots and you feel a sense of blissful relaxation afterward. The heat enhances feel-good endorphins and serotonin levels, making it a natural mood booster. Regular use can help improve symptoms of anxiety, sadness, brain fog, and more by calming your nervous system. It’s like a warm hug for body and mind!
The high metabolic increase caused by an infrared sauna leads to greater calorie and fat burn during and even after your session. A 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that its 30-minute session could burn upwards of 600 calories.
The increased heart rate required to move blood and sweat out toxins demands a lot of energy. Your body’s core temperature remains elevated for some time after the session, which leads to additional passive calorie burn. Using an infrared sauna can boost fat loss when combined with a healthy diet, regular workouts, and active lifestyle habits.
The heart rate and metabolism boost during an infrared sauna session burns calories rapidly. Your body also continues burning extra calories after the session while your core temperature remains elevated. Make sauna part of your regular health and fitness routine to see enhanced weight loss results. The detoxification also helps reduce belly bloat. Combine sessions with a nutritious diet, regular exercise for amplified fat-burning, and a slimmer physique!
Infrared heat has relaxation effects that can enhance sleep quality and duration for regular sauna users. Using it before bedtime lowers cortisol and releases endorphins in the brain, promoting a calm state for easier, uninterrupted sleep.
The improved circulation also allows the body to reach deeper REM sleep for optimal rest. Those with insomnia or nighttime restlessness may find an evening sauna session helps provide the relaxation needed for refreshing sleep vital to health and energy.
The soothing heat prepares the body for rest by lowering stress hormones and relaxing tight muscles. The mind reaches a focused calm, making it easy to drift off. Sauna use makes sleep deeper and more rejuvenating as body temperature lowers afterward. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, some pre-bedtime infrared sauna time may be just what you need for quality, uninterrupted sleep.
Using an infrared sauna regularly provides numerous benefits for the mind and body – from detoxification to pain relief to better heart health. Consistent sessions in the soothing heat can improve quality of life in many ways.
Stay hydrated and listen to your body when starting infrared sauna use. Used safely, infrared saunas are an excellent complement to a healthy lifestyle. The wide-ranging health perks explain the growing popularity of this holistic wellness approach. Give it a try and see how wonderful you feel after some relaxing time in the infrared glow!