Infrared is a type of heat commonly used in food preparation and therapeutic settings. Unlike traditional steam or electrical heaters, which heat the air around them, infrared heaters use electromagnetic radiation to transfer heat directly from the heater to a cooler body. The distinctive properties of infrared heat give it some important benefits.
Detoxification
Infrared heat is often used in lieu of more traditional heaters in saunas. The infrared radiation penetrates and heats your body, causing profuse sweating. This perspiration allows your body to rid itself of toxins through the skin.
Joint Pain Relief
As indicated by a study published in Clinical Rheumatology Journal, infrared heat may be a way to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. After exposure to an infrared sauna, arthritis sufferers noticed a significant reduction in pain and stiffness. Although the positive results are temporary, they suggest that infrared heat may have merit as a part of an arthritis management program.
Cool Environmental Temperature
Infrared heaters transmit heat electromagnetically to the cooler body without significantly heating the surrounding environment. In a traditional dry sauna, the room must reach a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. An infrared sauna, by contrast, will often operate at below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Without relying on high environmental temperatures, the infrared heater has far greater flexibility than a traditional sauna heater and can be used in nontraditional settings such as a bathroom or outside. With cooler surrounding air, infrared saunas can be more comfortable because the bather is able to breathe cooler air.
Energy Efficiency
With lower temperatures needed to achieve desired results, infrared heat is more energy efficient than traditional electric or steam heat. With no moisture, infrared heat is less damaging to the surrounding environment than steam heat. According to the Washington Post, infrared saunas are also significantly cheaper to buy than traditional dry or steam saunas.
