Just as high temperatures in ovens melt the fat in foods, a common misconception is that sitting in a sauna will have similar effects on weight loss. While the heat and steam in a sauna may provide some benefits for exercisers, there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of saunas for fat loss, and excessive use can actually harm your health.
Saunas for Weight Loss
Walk into the sauna at your gym and chances are you'll meet a few people seeking to speed their weight loss by melting away fat in the heat. While this may seem logical, the only weight you lose from sitting in a sauna is water weight from sweating. As soon as you consume fluids again, you'll gain this weight back. No evidence exists to support the belief that saunas speed weight loss.
Dangers
Using a sauna as a way to lose weight is not only ineffective, it brings up other health concerns. Spending prolonged periods of time in a sauna can lead to dehydration and put your body's cooling system under stress, making you feel fatigued or weak. Pregnant women, those suffering from heart disease, high or low blood pressure, epilepsy or individuals taking antibiotics or mind-altering drugs should not use saunas for any reason, as the extreme heat can cause adverse effects.
Potential Benefits
While sitting in the sauna won't help you lose weight directly, it can have residual benefits to help you meet your fitness goals. Spending 15 to 20 minutes in a sauna can help you relax and may alleviate the symptoms of muscle soreness from your workouts. When your soreness is more mild and you feel relaxed, you may be more likely to stick with your diet and exercise program for weight loss. In addition, feelings of stress and anxiety can trigger your body to store fat, so using a sauna as a way to relieve stress may help keep your weight loss on track.
Using the Sauna Safely
Should you choose to spend time in a sauna, keep each session to less than 20 minutes. Drink plenty of water before and after to help prevent or treat dehydration caused by sweating, and always wear shower shoes and a towel, as the hot temperatures make saunas perfect breeding grounds for athletes' foot and other fungal infections. If you use a sauna immediately after you exercise, be sure to cool down first. Never sit in a sauna alone, and exit right away if you feel dizzy or light headed.
Member Comments