Health Benefits of an Infrared Sauna
It has been known for decades that sweating is one of the most powerful ways to expel stored toxins. Your skin is your largest organ, and sweat is one of the major elimination channels for toxins. An infrared sauna will increase your blood circulation and core body temperature which then stimulates the sweat glands, releasing built-up toxins in the body; such as lead, mercury, nickel, alcohol, nicotine, sulfuric acid and other organic and inorganic compounds. An infrared sauna session will promote a deep, detoxifying sweat that will leave you feeling cleansed, refreshed and energised.
Without a healthy immune system we are vulnerable. An infrared sauna will raise your core body temperature, inducing an artificial fever. During a fever, body temperature rises and this strengthens the immune system. It’s a signal to white blood cells and the body’s army of antiviral lymphocytes, neutrophils and interferons to come to the rescue. An enhanced immune system, combined with improved elimination of toxins and wastes via intense sweating, increases your overall health and resistance to disease. Increased body temperature may also help fight infections by stimulating heat shock proteins that deter viruses from reproducing and reduce inflammatory cytokine proteins.
Leave every session with a fresh glow and immaculately clean skin. The profuse sweating achieved during your infrared sauna session carries off deeply embedded impurities, cleansing your pores of toxins and helping the skin expel dead skin cells and regenerate new ones. You’ll see improved tone, elasticity, texture and fresh colour. Increased blood circulation draws your skin’s own natural nutrients to the surface and has been shown to relieve acne, eczema, psoriasis. Furthermore, burns, cuts and open wounds heal more quickly, helping to reduce scarring. Infrared saunas can also help to reduce wrinkles and crow’s feet by promoting the production of collagen and elastin.
An infrared sauna session imparts a similar aerobic response from the cardiovascular system as that of light to moderate exercise. As your body increases sweat production and pumps blood at a greater rate to boost circulation, it’s busy burning calories – up to 600 calories in a single infrared session. Infrared heat penetrates the skin and muscles up to 8 cm, at the same time it mobilises and burns fat. Not only does this help with weight loss, cellulite reduction is an added benefit. The increased heart rate and blood circulation work together to stop fatty deposits and fibrosis from accumulating liquids in the fat cells to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Just a few minutes in the gentle warmth of an infrared sauna brings a great calm and peace to the mind. Your body will release happy chemicals serotonin and dopamine much like the natural high you get after a workout or in lovely sunshine which will improve your mood and feelings of happiness. In an infrared sauna, your nervous system immediately relaxes, allowing your cortisol levels to drop, putting you into a very powerful parasympathetic mode – your rest and digest mode.
The deep heat that occurs during an infrared sauna session helps peripheral blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscles, so they recover faster. Muscles relax the most when tissues are warm, for greater flexibility and range of motion. Help your muscles recover faster, decrease inflammation and relieve tension, aches and pains.
By using an infrared sauna, you calm your mind and body, promoting restful sleep. A calmer mind sleeps better for longer than a restless one. Over time, this therapy will improve natural melatonin and other sleep related hormone levels to help you get better rest naturally.
Infrared sauna sessions raise your heart rate and increase circulation. This replicates a cardiovascular workout known as ‘passive cardio’. In fact, blood flow during infrared sauna use may rise from a normal rate of 5 litres/minute to up to 12 litres/minute. Your heart is a muscle; working it makes it stronger. A stronger cardiovascular system helps capillaries deliver more oxygen to muscle cells. For people with injuries or conditions preventing them from cardio activity, an infrared sauna can help serve as an alternative for much needed cardio benefits.
