Sometimes I see my friends so stressed out with work, their boss and their families that I just want to shake them up and scream "Relax!" We really need to stop being engulfed by all this stress and give more importance to relaxation. And what better way than a revitalizing session in the sauna. I don't know what I'm going to have in my future dream house but a sauna is definitely on the list. Lately I have been reading a lot about the health benefits of an infrared sauna which are a step up from conventional saunas if you may. And of course I had to share it with you ladies...
Doesn't it freak you out when you sit and think about the amount of toxins we expose our bodies to every day? Whether intentionally by drinking alcohol or smoking or unintentionally by the industrial chemicals in the air and additives in our food, our bodies need to be detoxified every once in a while. And yes you can try various diets and fasting methods, but if you are like me and lack the err... discipline to follow through, the best way to detoxify would be to relax in a sauna while your body sweats it out. Sweat is the body's natural way afterall to get rid of toxins. And why an infrared sauna over a conventional one? For the simple reason that studies show that in a conventional sauna the average person sweats out 3% toxins and 97% water as compared to an infrared sauna where the average person sweats out 20% toxins and 80% water! That's nea rly 7 times better!
Honestly, weight loss is one of the reasons why I enjoy my sauna sessions even more. Studies show that you can burn anywhere between 300-600 calories in a 30 minute infrared sauna session! Part of this has to do with the sweating process itself which ofcourse burns calories and part of it has to do with the fact that your body is working to cool off the increase in temperature.
This increases your heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate. Also, the lower temperatures used in an infrared sauna stimulate a fat sweat which eliminates toxins stored in fat as opposed to a conventional sauna which encourages a water sweat. Remember that you cannot depend solely on your sauna to lose weight. Use it to compliment your weight loss program and you will see amazing results.
When you exercise, there is an increase in the blood flow level in your body. An infrared sauna heats your muscles and causes a similar increase in blood flow. Also, your blood vessels will expand to accomodate the increase in blood flow thus bringing down your blood pressure in the bargain. Now this effect is temporary but research shows that using an infrared sauna atleast 3 times a week can have lasting effects on your blood pressure.
Heat is a wonderful remedy for pain. I know I have used that trusty hot water bag to relieve painful menstrual cramps one too many times and always with great results. An infrared saunas combines heat along with better blood circulation which increases the oxygen level in the blood to provide relief for various kinds of pain including arthritis!
Ofcourse we all know how important it is to maintain a healthy heart. An infrared sauna will penetrate deep into your muscles and organs, increasing your pulse rate in the bargain which in turn burns calories and provides a mild workout for your heart. With the regular use of a sauna, you will be strengthening your heart and getting in better overall physical shape.
Yes! Another way to fight those ugly deposits of fat! As mentioned above, infrared saunas boost blood circulation and that's one way to start fighting cellulite. Also, the infrared heat penetrates deep enough to liquefy the subcutaneous fat and release it via sweat. Using an infrared sauna over a period of time will dramatically reduce the appearance of cellulite and leave you with youthful, firmer skin.
Infrared light has the ability to penetrate human tissue easily. And what exactly does that translate to? For starters, infrared reduces inflammation, replaces dead cells, relaxes facial tensions and improves skin elasticity. Also, let's not forget that sweating gets rid of impurities and bacteria that settle on your skin. All in all, infrared sauna sessions will leave you with wrinkle free, gorgeous skin!
Let me also not forget to mention that infrared saunas are much more comfortable temperture wise, more sanitary and economical. So no crazy power bills. And if all that was not enough, infrared saunas are known to boost your immune system by increasing your white blood cell count. Pretty impressive huh? I don't know about you but I'm sold! Do you use the sauna a lot? Have you experienced any benefits of it? Would you consider buying an infrared sauna? I'd love to know.