Saunas are a popular way to relax. They offer numerous benefits, including stress relief and skin cleansing. However, they are also utilized as a part of detoxification diets. Sauna detoxes are intended to expel toxins through the sweat. And though spending time in the sauna will open your pores and make you sweat, the evidence for the expulsion of toxins is lackluster.
Purpose
According to a study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention conducted in 2006 and as noted in the Los Angeles Times, toxins are present in most people's blood and urine. These toxins are acquired through exposure to the environment and chemicals and eating foods. Because of this toxin exposure, many turn to sauna detoxification to expel these toxins through the sweat. Unlike other detox diets that require depriving the body through fasting, the sauna detox diet is intended to offer a relaxing way to get healthier.
Function
It's well known that sitting in a sauna will cause you to sweat. And since toxins tend to accumulate around fat cells in the body, it is believed that you will sweat out these toxins, according to DrLWilson.com.
Effectiveness
According to Donald Smith, a professor at UC Santa Cruz quoted in the Los Angeles Times, less than one percent of toxins are expelled through the process of sweating. Likewise, metal toxins can't be expelled through sweat at all. This means that sauna detox diets are relatively ineffective at purging the body of toxins.
Warnings
While spending time in the sauna may not detoxify you, it can improve the texture of your skin and make you feel refreshed. Unfortunately, saunas pose numerous health risks. For instance, the increased sweating can cause dehydration and kidney problems. Likewise, pregnant women should not spend any time in saunas, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, since exposure to heat above 101 degrees F can cause birth defects in some women.
Safety
If you do decide to use a sauna for its very limited detoxification benefits, be warned. Sitting in a sauna for too long can cause dehydration and overheating. Drink at least eight ounces of water for every 15 minutes you spend in the sauna says DrLWilson.com and take a cool shower following your sauna time to close your pores and bring your body temperature back down to normal.
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