Health benefits of saunas are becoming more and more well known, as pollution has become an extremely large problem in the world today, and has had a huge impact on our overall health.
Pollutant’s in the air are considered to be a major contributing factor in the large increase of respiratory, congestion, and cardiovascular disease that we see today.
Environmental pollutant’s are found everywhere, not only in the air but in our water, in the soil and of course in our food.
What happens to all the pollutant’s we consume on a daily basis? They are difficult to get rid of and over time can cause numerous health problems.
Millions of people strive on a daily basis to lose weight, eat right and exercise more in the hopes of improving their health. They spend millions on health products and yet have little success.
But there is hope! While we struggle to find ways to rid our bodies of toxins, the Finnish people have known for centuries about the detoxifying and amazing health benefits of a sauna.
You may be thinking: “I don’t have time to visit the sauna everyday”.
That is where a portable sauna comes in handy! Check out these popular models!
Saunas And The Immune System
People have used saunas for thousands of years all around the world, and sweating out toxins is only part of the reason. Health benefits don’t just lie in detoxification. You can actually boost your immune system too.
Our immune systems protects us from disease causing organisms, therefore it’s important we do anything we can to help improve it. Research has shown people who use a sauna at least twice a week caught half as many colds compared to those who did not.
This is due to the fact the heat from a sauna stimulates the number of white blood cells that fight infections. This in turn has a great benefit to our immune system, making it stronger and helping it to destroy more disease causing toxins.
A healthy immune system can reduce the healing time for damaged tissue, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerve endings. Enhanced cell regeneration will give you more energy, stamina and mental clarity.
Cardiovascular Disease Reduced With Frequent Sauna Use
Regularly spending time in a sauna may help keep your heart healthy and extend your life. Using a sauna lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol, that in turn lowers your risk of heart disease.
It’s generally safe and likely beneficial for people with mild heart failure. The effect of heat from a sauna are believed to be good for your blood vessels, expanding them and increasing the blood flow.
Saunas can improve your circulation and enhance metabolism. An infrared sauna session is a genuine passive workout – without exercise.
Frequent visits to a sauna are linked to a lower death rate from cardiovascular disease and stroke. So spending 30 minuets of sauna time several times a week is not only enjoyable but can be extremely good for your heart health.
Physical Benefits Of A Sauna
Much has been said on the health benefits of using a sauna and with good reason. Physically, nothing is more invigorating than a healthy, deep sweat every single day. Tensions fade, muscles relax and we emerge ready for whatever the day may bring.
A few minutes a day in a sauna can make the difference between a day of tension and stress, or one of worry free relaxation.
Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States today. Saunas offer the maximum relief possible, for temporary relief of pain and increased mobility.
The increased mobility is due to the fact that your body becomes more flexible when exposed to increased temperatures.
Infrared saunas have been shown to work well on muscle pain throughout the back. In fact the Far infrared sauna heat is a very effective natural pain relief therapy in ongoing muscle and joint pain.
Fibromyalgia attacks the muscles, tendons, and fibrous tissues of the body. While it’s cause is not known, many medical professionals and patients believe the Far infrared sauna is a promising treatment for this painful disease.
Infrared saunas have been used for over 20 years all over the world in the treatment of cancer. It increases the production of white killer T-cells, blood cells, as well as interferon. All of which have been shown to fight cancer cell growth.
Using A Sauna For The Mind
Using a sauna may be more than just relaxing, it may also be good for the mind and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. In fact a study done in Finland found those who used a sauna four to seven times a week had a 65% lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Many people believe the use of a sauna can help alleviate anxiety and mental depression. They say after leaving the sauna their mind is in a relaxed, lucid state free from the worries of the outside world.
Sleep is another benefit. A deeper more relaxed sleep is just what the body needs to start the day off right.
A session in the sauna before bed could be just what you need. It’s refreshing, relaxing and helps relieve the stress of a busy day, thus ensuring a deeper and more beneficial nights sleep.
Chronic fatigue is a debilitating disease affecting the mind and body. Not only do people with this disease suffer with unrelenting fatigue, but also memory and concentration deficits.
This disease causes sleep disturbances, headaches, joint and muscle pain as well as gastrointestinal and immune system dysfunction.
One natural alternative treatment for this chronic disease is infrared sauna therapy, where benefits include a significant reduction of fatigue. In addition, the therapy was found to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.
Look Younger And Lose Weight? Count Me In!
Saunas are great for many things and weight loss is one of them.
How does this work?
Overheating and sweating forces your body to work much harder. Your heart pumps faster and so this therapeutic activity can indeed be helpful in your weight loss program.
The sauna increases your circulation, makes you sweat and helps you shed salt and water thus allowing you to lose excess water weight. This, along with your healthy diet and moderate exercise, can indeed be beneficial for shedding those extra pounds.
Your time in the sauna does increase energy consumption, and can increase your potential for burning calories. The sauna can also improve exercise tolerance and endurance, as it bolsters plasma and red-cell volume.
At the same time your body with heat up several degrees, this increases circulation which in turn helps to dislodge toxins. The increased blood circulation draws more oxygen and nutrients to leave your skin looking healthier and moisturized.
Skin is primarily composed of collagen. Collagen is a protein, it gives our tissues and organs strength and elasticity. Saunas can help collagen reproduction, which forces the excretion of dead skin cells and promotes the growth of newer and healthier ones.
Making your skin look and feel younger.
Now with your skin looking healthier and younger, comes another benefit of the saunas ability to make you look good.
Your hair!
Spending time in the sauna activates a special gland on your scalp, called the sebaceous gland, which releases compounds that help condition and moisturize our hair.
When the gland is activated it will release these useful compounds, thereby helping to make your hair look great without the need for expensive hair products.
Some Little Known Benefits Of Sauna Use
One little known benefit of spending time in a sauna is how it can help you in your quest to give up smoking. And as we know this is not an easy task, and requires great determination.
When you deny your body of the substance it’s addicted to, you may feel some physical withdrawal.
The good news is nicotine addiction only lasts 3 days.
So after 3 days of sauna sessions and no cigarettes, you are not addicted to nicotine anymore and you have a huge head start on getting rid of the many toxic materials from cigarettes. As you sweat your body will release the toxins built up over time.
You will be helping your body to rid itself of bleach that cigarette company’s use along with ammonia and tar. You will not only feel better but you will also breath better.
A sauna can help with the healing of a Diabetic Ulcers – this is an open sore that will not heal.
It is estimated 15% of diabetics suffer with this condition at some time. An Infrared sauna can help as the sauna increases circulation thereby enhancing blood flow to the infected area allowing the ulcer to heal faster.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder where people either cannot sleep or are constantly awake. They can benefit from sauna therapy. Every year people spend large amounts of money on sleep aids – well no need for pills as an Infrared sauna could be just what you need.
A sauna session before bed can be a great help in your quest for a better nights rest. Let the sauna do the work, while you sit and read a book your body and mind will be relieved of stress, aches and pains and become more relaxed thus allowing you to get a better sleep. A perfectly safe alternative to sleeping aids!
Sauna benefits are seemingly endless, and have been used to help many health related illnesses, from immune disorders, cardiovascular disease to improving your skin as well as relieving stress.
Maybe the secret to a happier, healthier life style could be just a portable sauna away?
If you enjoyed (or didn’t?) this article leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you.
My dad always told me that saunas were great for your health but I never understood why. I appreciate you explaining that when you are in a suana your body is detoxifying itself through the sweat as well as boosting your immune system. I’m always looking for new ways to keep my body in top shape so I’ll be sure to add a sauna visit to my health routine.
You made a great point about how saunas are great for arthritis and pain relief. We need to find a good treatment for my mother’s rheumatoid arthritis, and taking her to a sauna treatment could be really good for her. We will keep this in mind in our search for a professional.