Infrared Sauna: Relax Your Way To Improved Immunity
Who doesn’t love getting pampered?!
Now, what if you could help improve your immune system at the same time.
I know you’re IN, so let’s take a closer look at just exactly what IS an infrared sauna - and how it can foster immune health.
How is an infrared sauna different from a traditional sauna?
The differences between a traditional sauna and the infrared sauna are the temperature, the method in heating, the time it takes to heat up, the amount of energy used for typical sized room, and the social experience.
- Method of Heating
o traditional sauna uses an electric heater with stones that heat the room. The heat warms the walls and the air around you to a degree that your body starts its natural cooling process. You could also pour water over the rocks to raise the humidity level.
o Infrared sauna – the heat waves penetrate the body to effectively heat the body and raise the body’s core body temperature
- Time to heat up – the traditional sauna takes a bit longer to warm up. They are also a bit larger in size too which makes it more costly to run but there is more room for a social experience.
- Both have great health benefits!
6 ways an infrared sauna session can pamper your immune system
There are many, many benefits of using a sauna. So I wanted to dive into the research and see what the science is saying about just exactly how they are so good for us.
1. Improve overall health, wellness, and performance
The excess heat leads our body to believe that it may have a fever and then there is a rapid increase in white blood cells that help us fight off infections and viruses. Frequent use may help reduce systemic inflammation.
The heat relaxes muscles, improves circulation, stimulates the release of endorphins our “feel good” hormone!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3916915/
2. Sweating
How does this help us?
a. Detoxification – eliminates chemicals and helps eliminate heavy metals in our bodies
b. Cleanses our skin – the deep sweating cleanses our skin and dead cells are replaced giving you that GLOW
c. Weight Loss – the excess sweating of our water weight takes more energy thereby burning additional calories
3. Relieves Stress and Improves Sleep
It provides stress relief as its quiet, warm, and away from distractions.
When we relax it helps regulate our level of cortisol in our blood. Cortisol is the hormone that increases with stress and when levels are too high for too long this could lead to health problems and lead to immune dysfunction. The heat and relaxation reduces cortisol and increases serotonin. The leaves us feeling good. The serotonin is a precursor to melatonin which helps us get a good nights sleep!
4. Aids in recovery after physical activity
It helps sooth aches and pains in the muscles and joints.
The heat increases our body temperature which increases blood flow and turns up the speed of our body’s natural healing processes. After a workout the heat promotes relaxation by helping reduce muscle tension and eliminate the lactic acid and other toxins that may be present.
5. Increases circulation and a reduced risk in cardiovascular disease
The heat increases blood flow and blood volume which increases your heart rate. The increased cardiac output is similar to that of moderate intensity of exercise. There has been some evidence showing the benefit for high blood pressure.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7801668/
6. Improves brain health
Inversely associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Breaking a sweat may reduce the risk in cardiovascular disease. It is the vascular conditions that can contribute to hypertension which are associated with Alzheimer pathologies.
https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/17432/assets/health-benefits-library/alzheimers-dementia/Dementia-Alzheimers-Disease-Study.pdf
The Alzheimer’s Association includes sweating as an important way to improve brain health
https://www.alz.org/help-support/brain_health/10_ways_to_love_your_brain
Solfull Take Away Tips
- Be sure to stay hydrated!
- Do not use for more than 20-30 minutes in one session.
- Use this time wisely to be present with yourself!
Feel Better! Look Better! Sleep Better!
Nourish your body and Sol!
STAY TUNED TO BE ABLE TO BOOK IN FOR YOUR OWN SAUNA SESSIONS!