Outdoor Living

Thanks to their numerous health benefits, saunas have been used for centuries and are still popular today. Regardless of the type of sauna you use, whether a traditional sauna that uses a  wood stove to heat sauna rocks or the modern infrared saunas that use light waves from specialized infrared lamps to heat your body, their health benefits are in abundance. 

Keep reading to learn more about a few of the top health benefits of both traditional and infrared saunas.

1. Flush Toxins

One way through which our bodies flush toxins is through deep sweating. However, a good number of us don’t actively sweat on a daily basis, so this is where saunas come in. Typically, a regular sauna bath triggers deep sweating, which helps flush toxins from the body.

When in the sauna, your body temperature rises, and blood vessels dilate, increasing the blood flow. As more heated blood flows close to the skin, the sweat glands become activated and produce sweat. The sweat being secreted comprises 99% of water and also has a significant amount of toxins. These toxins include copper, zinc, lead, mercury, and nickel, which your body absorbs from their everyday environment.

The detoxification process from saunas increases your energy levels, improves mental clarity, strengthens your immune system, and promotes healthy skin, among other benefits. 

2. Relieve Stress

Heat from the sauna helps regulate the level of hormone cortisol released when you are experiencing stress. These high levels of cortisol can trigger several health issues such as sleeping difficulties, cardiovascular issues, and blood pressure, to mention a few.

The heat from the sauna can reduce your hormone cortisol level and instead stimulate the production of another hormone named serotonin. The hormone serotonin is also known as the ‘happy hormone,’ which leaves you feeling good after a sauna bath.

3. Fight Illness

Research has shown that most people who regularly step into saunas are able to reduce the incidences of colds and influenza significantly. This is because as your body gets exposed to the sauna heat, it produces more white blood cells. An increased number of white blood cells helps fight illnesses and kill viruses in the body. The sauna heat also helps relieve sinus congestion from colds and allergies.

4. Burn Calories

Saunas are a great tool when it comes to burning the extra calories in your body. As your body actively sweats, it uses a significant amount of energy derived from the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, a process that helps burn extra calories. The burning of extra calories helps maintain a healthy weight, reducing lifestyle diseases such as heart problems and obesity.

5. Relax Muscles and Soothe Pains

The high heat produced by saunas triggers the body to produce endorphins. Endorphins, also known as ‘feel good hormones,’ work by binding with the brain’s opiate receptors to reduce your body’s perception of pain. The high endorphin levels help relieve muscle pain and soothe sore joints and muscles. The increased blood flow caused by increased body temperatures also speeds up your body’s natural healing process.

Typically saunas offer much-needed muscle relaxation after an intense physical workout or a tough day at work.

Contact Your Local Sauna Experts

From the health benefits listed above, it’s evident that saunas go a long way in helping you feel good, look good, and lead a happy and healthy life. These hot rooms are good for your general health and are worth the investment. Stop by a sauna showroom in your town to learn more about the different saunas they carry and to speak with one of their experts for more information.