Nowadays, saunas are seen everywhere. They are regular features in hotels, private clubs or homes. They can be indoor or outdoor. Saunas have many health benefits. However, it is important to keep in mind that for overall health, sauna bathing must be accompanied with proper diet and exercise. A sauna is a hot room. There are typically two types of saunas: a steamy sauna and a dry sauna. A dry sauna room can be kept at much higher temperatures, usually around 252 degrees. This is because there is no moisture to burn the skin. A steamy sauna is typically kept between 110 to 115 degrees, primarily to prevent burning to the skin from the moisture. Steam is acquired by pouring water over hot rocks.
-Detoxification is one of the benefits of sauna. Skin is the largest eliminative organ of our body and nearly 30 percent of the body’s wastes exit through the skin. In sauna, toxic wastes are eliminated in our body through profuse sweating. It has a natural way to clean our body through the process of perspiration.
- During a 10-20 minute sauna session, your heart rate increases by 50-75%. This provides the same metabolic result as physical exercise. The increased cardiac load is the equivalent to a brisk walk. There is a nominal effect on blood pressure because the heat also causes blood vessels in skin to expand to accommodate increased blood flow.
-The warm steam of the sauna relaxes your muscles, tendons and ligaments and helps your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients better to your tissues all over your body. In infrared sauna, the heat penetrates deeper and quicker, increasing the positive relaxing effects.
-Sauna bathing also helps maintain a healthy skin and a clear complexion. It helps in the growth and development of cells in our body and brings essential nutrients to the skin. It increases the rate of blood flow, which in turn enhances the production of collagen. Collage helps maintain skin elasticity and clear complexion. It also loosens fatty tissues and detoxifies the body from toxins and chemical wastes.
-When taking a sauna, skin temperature rises to 40°C (104°F) and internal body temperature rises to about 38°C (100.4°F). Exposure to the high heat creates an artificial fever state. Fever is part of the body’s natural healing process. Fever stimulates the immune system resulting in increased production of disease fighting white blood cells, antibodies and interferon (an anti viral protein with cancer fighting capability).
-Using sauna before a workout warms your muscles, tendons and ligaments and shortens your recovery time after your workout session by quickly clearing the lactic acid from your muscles. Infrared sauna accelerates this recovery process.
-Aside from the physical benefits, saunas are also a stress reliever and mental health booster. The high temperature in sauna is responsible in relaxing the body and relieving fatigue. Sauna also helps sharpen mental clarity and improves sleep patterns.
-Also through sauna, a big amount of body wastes are released through the skin’s pores during sweating, helping decrease the load of the kidney. In fact, sauna is recommended for those undergoing dialysis.
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