If you associate yourself with the health and natural living societies for a long time, you will, in the long run, hear of things such as infrared sauna advantages and red light therapy mostly for detoxification. Different kinds of saunas usually are hyped for their benefits in cellulite reduction, removal of toxins, loss of weight, among others. After plenty of research, it has been confirmed that infrared saunas have several health benefits as you will see below.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
Unlike the customary sauna, infrared saunas do not usually heat the air around you. Alternatively, they utilize infrared lamps which use electromagnetic radiation to warm one`s body directly. They use infrared panels other than the regular heat to quickly penetrate human tissue, thus heating the body before they heat the air.
Manufacturers maintain that in this type of sauna, only approximately 20% of the heat goes to heat up the air and the rest 80% is directed to your body. Infrared saunas allow the heat to penetrate more in-depth as compared to the warm air. This lets you experience a more intense sweat at a reduced temperature.
Benefits of an Infrared Sauna
Detoxification
Sweating is among the body`s most natural means to eliminate toxins, making it an essential part of detoxification. As compared to the conventional Swedish saunas, infrared saunas let you eliminate almost seven times more toxins.
Pain relief
If you suffer from joint pain or muscle aches, infrared saunas can ease this kind of inflammation by increasing circulation and soothing your muscles.
Relaxation
Infrared sauna therapy stimulates relaxation by assisting in balancing the levels of cortisol in the body, which is the body`s primary stress hormone. The heat produced by the sauna will as well aid to sooth the muscles and ease the tension all through the body, letting you to de-stress and relax.
Weight loss
The heat produced by an infrared sauna will result in your core temperature increasing, which can as well lead to increasing of your heart rate – a similar increase of heart rate that you experience when working out. When your body has to work extra hard to reduce your core temperature or continue with an elevated heart rate, your body will burn lots of calories, which leads to loss of weight.
Better circulation
As the heat generated from the infrared saunas increases your body`s core temperature, your circulation will increase together with it. Regular infrared sauna sessions, mostly in the middle-infrared intensity, can promote the flow of the blood, and reduce pain as well as inflammation after working out intensely.
Purification of the skin
The technology of the infrared sauna can aid to purify the skin by getting rid of toxins from the pores and speeding up circulation leading to clearer, healthier, and softer skin.
Blood pressure and health of your heart
Going by a review of every published scientific literature about the infrared saunas, the most researched benefit is the coronary benefit, mostly in their ability to assist in regularizing blood pressure and decreasing the chances of heart failure.
Injury healing, muscle growth, and anti-aging
Infrared saunas increase the heat shock proteins and antioxidants and encourage cellular cleanup, which can aid the cells to function like new ones. An increase in heat shock proteins aids to delay aging and betters cognitive function.
Some heat shock proteins can even aid with increasing muscle mass without weight training. Photobiomodulation, infrared therapy has a strong anti-inflammatory effect which can speed up injury healing.
Better mood and mental health
Similar to when you go for a run, use of the infrared sauna intensifies endorphin which is the happiness hormone and opioids which is the natural reliever of the body`s pain and also a molecule in the brain known as Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). BDNF promotes the growth of fresh neuronal cells (neurogenesis) in the brain and shields new neurons from harm. Improving BDNF levels is thus essential for cognitive function. Besides, reduced or abnormal BDNF levels may result in several psychiatric and mental disorders.
Also, infrared saunas can decrease stress by re-balancing the stress reaction axis. It can assist in reducing the cortisol and therefore aids with stress-related health issues. Saunas also mend the neurotransmitter known as the norepinephrine, which can assist to better the cognitive functions.
Better Sleep
According to a clinical psychologist certified in sleep medicine, Dr. Michael Breus, the sudden drop in the body temperature during the night is among the daily cues that the body takes that the time to sleep has come. This elaborates on why a warm shower before sleeping can improve the quality of sleep. Since the infrared sauna normally heats the body more as compared to a warm shower, it can take the body several hours to cool down for bedtime. To improve the quality of your sleep, try using a sauna session during the afternoon or before supper to let the body cool down by the time you go to sleep.
Inflammation & autoimmunity
By elevating circulation in the body, exposure to heat can aid decrease inflammation. Infrared saunas, mostly far infrared ones can aid to reduce inflammation more strongly as compared to other kinds of saunas via photobiomodulation. Far infrared therapy promotes the production of protective nitric oxide in one`s blood vessels, lessens oxidative stress, and increases the functioning of the mitochondria.
Some studies have revealed that exposure to far infrared aids with many inflammatory conditions such as chronic fatigue and pain, cardiovascular conditions, fibromyalgia, diabetes, Sjogren syndrome, chronic kidney condition, poor sleep, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Unlike some popular claims, exposure to heat and infrared do not directly burn calories or destroy fat cells. On the other hand, saunas aid to improve the sensitivity of insulin, elevate lean muscles and lessen fat by altering the hormonal environment. Also, the infrared saunas also decrease inflammation; thus, infrared saunas therapies can prevent cardiovascular conditions, obesity, and diabetes.
A study by Japan reveals that 14 days of infrared sauna therapy increased appetite as well as intake of food in individuals of a healthy weight. Although, in overweight individuals, far infrared therapy sauna usage combined with a reduced-calorie diet lead to considerable weight as well as body fat loss. Even though the study did not compare the loss of fat with a group which did not use the infrared sauna, the decrease in body fat (4.5%) in approximately 14 days is considered quite swift.
The wavelengths penetrate the body`s soft tissue up to 1.5 inches thus warming up the body and opening the blood vessels in a process known as “vasodilation.” This infrared sauna is so safe it is frequently utilized in hospitals to keep babies warm. They have been researched for decades. Physicians use infrared daily in clinics as well as hospitals across the globe to ease pain, heal skin issues, and increase flexibility, among others. Thus, Infrared sauna therapy is an essential part of your healthy life, whether you are a patient, or healthy.
This is some really good information about infrared saunas. I liked what you said about how it can help you sleep better. That is great for me to know because I have been having a really difficult time sleeping.