Saunas have many Incredible Benefits!
The Top 10 Benefits of Saunas
We’ve all heard about how good Saunas are for us but what exactly what can sauna bathing do for you and your family? And do these claims stand up to scientific scrutiny? We have compiled a list of the top 10 Benefits of Sauna Use! And all of them are back up by Science!
1) Relaxation of the muscles and joints
The main reason we hop into saunas is to get instant relief from aching muscles and joints. Sauna use has many benefits for athletes and those who exercise regularly, as the heat helps prevent post-workout pains. Saunas release endorphins, causing our blood vessels to dilate, which in turn increases our blood flow to our muscles, brain, skin, and other organs. It is these red blood cells that heal and repair our body.
So regular Sauna use both allows and contributes to deep healing across our body. Heat from the sauna reduces muscle tension and eliminates lactic acid accrued from sport. This is why we feel so relaxed after a sauna. Our bodies are replenished with red blood cells.
When you use a sauna, your body secretes growth hormones into your blood (in particular Human Growth Hormone), helping your muscles recover. In older people this effect is seen in slowing down and even stopping muscle wastage.
2) Increased cardiovascular performance
In addition to reducing stress, saunas increase cardiovascular performance. Taking a sauna will widen your blood vessels and raise your heart rate to the same level as aerobic exercise. This will double how much blood you pump around your body per minute. By tricking your mind, saunas make your body think it’s working out. Studies show regular sauna use lowers high blood pressure and keeps it stable. Your sauna will improve your vascular compliance, or in plain English, make your heart and arteries work much better for you.
3) Stress relief
Stress relief is one health benefit we can all get behind. In today’s modern world where we are always on and always contactable, Stress has become an endemic problem.
Stress can lead to problems sleeping, poor performance at work, fractured relationships and in some cases, anxiety and depression. It’s something we are all aware of yet finding a cure to dealing with stress is not easy.
Regular sauna use will help you beat stress.
Whilst you’re in the sauna your body will feel a slight degree of stress. After all sitting in such heat is not natural for many of us. Your body after spending time in a sauna releases euphoric hormones, and you feel amazing! These hormones will help you sleep, concentrate, and feel much better.
This positive hormonal reaction to the initial stress that a sauna puts your body under becomes your body’s default response to stress. Essentially a sauna trains your body to deal with stress better.
Healthy arteries make our bodies able to handle stress better. Recover from the stress of modern life by enjoying regular sauna sessions with your family and friends from the comfort of your own home.
4) Toxin flush
By sweating intensely, saunas can reduce levels of toxins like lead, copper, zinc, nickel and mercury that you absorb every day from numerous sources.
The average person is exposed to more than 700,000 toxic chemicals a day. Luckily we have a
\way of ridding ourselves of most toxins. In fact this act is something we humans excel at above all other mammals, we can sweat, profusely.
The average person will lose a pint of sweat during even a short sauna visit! So if you want to detox your body, grab your towel and wave those toxins farewell. It is the perfect prelude before you settle down to enjoy an evening with family and friends brimming with health.
5) Clearer skin
Sweating from sauna bathing is said to deep cleanse the skin. Through the heat from the sauna, bacteria are drawn out of your sweat ducts, your pores are cleaned, and your capillaries are improved, and so your skin looks clearer and feels soft.
6) Deeper sleep
Taking a sauna before bed can help you sleep better. If you raise your body temperature right before bedtime, your heated body will automatically re-adjust its temperature. It’s this cooling down and normalizing that’ll lull you to sleep, leaving you calm and relaxed. You’ll wake up after a deep and rejuvenating sleep and be ready for whatever life throws at you!
7) Improvement of lung function
Studies have shown that having regular saunas during winter can help keep seasonal colds or pneumonia away. If you’ve got a cold or feel like you’re on the verge of one, try a sauna. This is where a home sauna really comes in handy. You don’t have to worry about bugs or infecting anyone else.
8) Aid chronic conditions
There’s evidence that saunas alleviate musculoskeletal pain, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. The heat reduces inflammation levels in the blood which contribute to these ailments.
9) Increased attention
Saunas boost the hormone norepinephrine, which keeps the brain focused and helps with attention. Stress from the heat also helps your body store norepinephrine for use later. This means that regular sauna use greatly improves your attention and mood.
10) Lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia and helps with a host of other illnesses!
Last but not least, a 20-year study from the University of Eastern Finland suggests that sauna bathing 4-7 times per week for 20 minutes lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s by 65%!
Saunas can help with CFS by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality. The warm, humid environment of a sauna can also help to alleviate muscle pain and improve circulation, which can help to reduce fatigue
Safe sauna practices
Here’s what you need to know before you strip off your bathers and plunge into 80°C temperatures!
Before or after your sauna, don’t drink alcohol
It’s so important to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, after the sauna, and throughout your sauna experience.
Don’t stay in the sauna longer than you feel comfortable. It’s best to increase your sauna time gradually if you’re a newbie. Even regular sauna bathers should limit their sessions to 20 minutes
Check with your doctor before using a sauna if you have a preexisting condition, especially a heart condition
Saunas shouldn’t be used by pregnant women
Whenever you feel dizzy, leave the sauna and go somewhere cool
