#2) Weight Loss - This is one of the best benefits of infrared saunas. Experts say you can burn as many calories in a sauna as you can in a 30 minute run - sometimes up to 700 calories in one 30 minute session.
And there are lots of testimonials from people who have lost weight just by using a sauna. This is particularly helpful too for people who, for various reasons like injury or illness, cannot exercise.
Personally, I didn't buy a sauna to lose weight- more for the detox benefits and health benefits. However I did notice that after my sauna sessions, I could eat a lot more without gaining weight. In fact I even lost a few pounds and had to eat more to keep my weight up. Anything that lets me eat more without gaining weight is a definite bonus.
#3) Look Younger - Sweating helps improve your skin texture by getting rid of old dead skin cells and removing impurities. After 1 week of regular sessions in our home sauna, people started commenting on how fresh and young my husband was looking. They actually started to ask him what supplements he was using.
#4) Reduce Cellulite - This is also probably due to enhanced circulation and detoxification. Many natural health experts claim that excess toxins and poor circulation contribute to cellulite formation. Regular sauna sessions can help you sweat off these toxins so it's easier to reduce cellulite.
#5) Pain Relief - This applies for conditions like fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches arthritis and even sports injuries. This is probably due to the increased circulation a sauna session provides.
#6) Relaxation and Stress Relief - Infrared saunas help to relax your muscles and are a luxurious treat to help combat stress after a particularly tough day. Many times we hold stress as tense muscles and don't even realize we're so wound up. Infrared radiant heat helps to relax these muscles and keep us limber and relaxed.
#7) Fight Those Winter Blues - One of the best things I found about using my sauna is that it helped me fight off the winter blues. I used to feel very down in the winter due to the cold and extra dark hours.
However I found that by using my sauna - at night in particular before I went to bed - I woke up the next morning happy, cheerful and energized. Not sure why this is, but I'm not arguing.
#8) Improved Immune System - Again, this is probably due to the increased circulation and detoxification that radiant heat provides. If you feel a cold or flu coming on, try jumping in your sauna - it may help your body to fight off that sickness.
Infrared saunas have also been used in conjunction with other health issues like cancer, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis, skin conditions, weight loss
In addition to being a relaxing way to wind down your day, a FIR Sauna offers a lot of great health benefits. Here are just a few benefits of infrared saunas you may not know:
#1) Detoxification - Many natural health experts including Dr. Don Colbert recommend infrared saunas for detoxification - especially of heavy metals like mercury:
"To enhance removal of mercury, I recommend using an infrared sauna. Sauna therapy helps the body release mercury." - Don Colbert M.D. "What You Don't Know May Be Killing You"
Saunas can also help with heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and even nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acid and other environmental toxins.
So there are a lot of benefits of infrared saunas. But it's not as simple as going out and buying one.
There are certain saunas that are better than others, heat up faster and give more penetrating, constant heat.
If you do decide to buy an infrared sauna, make sure you do your homework first and know what to look for when buying. It could save you a lot of money and hassle.
