What Are The Benefits Of Using A Sauna?

Traditional saunas, small rooms designed to be heated to high temperatures, include steam created by pouring water over hot rocks. The heavy sweating created by a sauna's heat does more than just relax your tired muscles. It also sweats impurities from your body, aids in weight loss and boosts your immune system.

Relaxation

Most people think of saunas as a place to relax and unwind after a hard workout or long day. Stress causes your muscles to tense up, causing headaches or muscle pains. Exposure to heat in a sauna allows your muscles to relax and release the tension causing the aches and pains. Because of this, saunas can temporarily ease pain from arthritis. An evening sauna can leave you relaxed, which can also lead to deeper sleep.

Detox

Saunas eliminate toxins from your body through sweat. The skin is bombarded with commercial chemicals through daily activities like shampooing, housecleaning or driving. People also ingest chemicals and toxins in processed foods and non-organic produce. Your body changes toxins into water-soluble forms that can pass out of your skin's pores as you sweat. After your sauna, take a cool shower to rinse and refresh your pores.

Boosts Immunity

Heat encourages your body to produce more white blood cells. These are the cells your body sends out to attack disease and infection. Higher white blood cell counts help you stay immune and heal quickly. Your body also uses heat to fight viruses and bacteria.

Weight Loss

Similar to exercise, saunas temporarily raise your basal metabolic rate by 20 percent, so you burn more calories throughout your day after a sauna. Since you are sweating, you body is also burning calories during the sauna. The amount of calories burned varies based on heat levels and body types, but on average a 160-lb. person will burn about 300 calories in a typical 30-minute sauna session.

Increase Circulation

Heating your muscles encourages higher blood flow to those areas. In a sauna, your muscles experience better circulation, which brings fresh oxygen to the tissues. Your body uses oxygen to move toxins out of your deep muscle tissues and to heal itself. Increased circulation also helps your body produce more energy, leaving your refreshed.