Infrared saunas – the little boxes of warmth that are gaining massive popularity. What better way to relax and unwind while giving your health a little boost than with infrared saunas?

From detoxification to better sleep, there are several reasons why you should consider adding saunas to your wellness routine. Here are 7 surprising medically proven benefits of infrared saunas

Heads Up: When you come out of an infrared sauna, you’ll probably look like a wilted flower. But that’s just proof that it is working.

What are Infrared Saunas and How Do They Work?

Unlike traditional saunas, an infrared sauna doesn’t heat the air around you. Instead, it uses infrared lamps to warm your body directly. The infrared panels' heat penetrates your tissues, heating up your body.

But it’s not as scary as it sounds. You won’t feel as if you are getting roasted by an invisible toaster. It’s more like getting a warm hug from a ray of light. 

And the best part is that you don’t need to sit around for hours for the benefits to start kicking in. 20 to 30 minutes of warmth and relaxation, and you are good to go.

Another difference between traditional and infrared saunas is that the former operates at temperatures between 150°F to 190°F while infrared saunas have a lower temperature ranging from 120°F to 140°F. 

However, 80% of this heat is absorbed into the body while only 20% vanishes into the air.

Detailed Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Apart from feeling like a toasty marshmallow on a cold winter night, here are other medically proven benefits of infrared saunas.

Detoxification

If you are feeling “toxic”– no, I don’t mean the radioactive waste dump – an infrared sauna may be the best way to get rid of all those unhealthy substances from your body. While that’s the primary job of your liver and kidney, they may need a helping hand.

The heat from a sauna will make you sweat profusely and, in turn, help flush out all the nasty toxins from your body. It is a good way of giving your insides a good cleaning.

Infrared saunas don’t just clean up the dirt you pick up from drinking one too many and eating a lot of junk foods. Saunas also help eliminate heavy metals, like mercury and lead, from your system as well.

Supports weight loss 

Do you want to lose weight without breaking a sweat? Ok, maybe a little sweat. You’ll be glad to know that doctors recommend chilling for 20 to 30 minutes inside an infrared sauna.

While this isn’t the best and most effective way of shedding pounds, saunas have been shown to help some people shed significant amounts of calories. Sweating itself uses a notable amount of energy, and this helps burn up calories.

Saunas may not automatically shed 50 pounds from your body, but combining it with exercise and a healthy diet might.

Pain relief 

If you are feeling sore and achy, with muscles aching as if you’ve been run over by a truck, infrared saunas should be your new best friend. The heat from a sauna will help increase blood flow to your muscles and joints. 

The blood vessels will relax and dilate, and this increases the blood flow. Apparently, the best way to ease aches and pains is to sit back and let heat massage your body.

A recent study revealed that sauna sessions help improve pain, fatigue, and stiffness in people with chronic pain and musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis.

Improved circulation 

Yes, saunas increase blood flow and circulation in your body – more reasons why you need to use them. The heat dilates your blood vessels and improves blood flow and circulation. 

When blood flows better in your body, wounds heal faster, your heart becomes healthier, your brain is sharper, and you get a more natural flush complexion. Who doesn’t want all these for themselves?

Improved immune system 

Apples keep the doctor away, and so do saunas. Sauna bathing helps improve cardiovascular and circulatory functions. How so? Sitting in an infrared sauna increases your body temperature. 

This stimulates the production of white blood cells– the little guys in your body that help fight off diseases and infections. High temperatures are also known to kill viruses and bacteria hanging out in your body.

Wait, there’s more. Saunas also help reduce inflammation which is vital for many health conditions. So, the next time you get a mild headache, try sitting in a sauna before taking any meds.

Improved skin health

Saunas may just be your answer to getting the healthy and glowing skin you’ve always dreamt of. Heat bathing is among the oldest beauty strategies employed to cleanse one’s skin. Deep sweating removes dead skin and rinses bacteria out of the sweat duct. It is like pressing the reset button on your skin and starting afresh.

On top of that, increased blood flow as a result of saunas will improve your skin’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It gives you a natural facelift without the need for surgery.

Better Sleep

Are you having trouble sleeping? If you spend your nights tossing and turning and counting sheep, saunas might just be what you are missing out on.

The heat from saunas helps your muscles relax and calms your mind. There are two results to this. One, it relieves you of your stress and helps lift your mood. And two, you start sleeping better. Remember, anxiety and stress are two major contributors to stress problems.

Give an infrared sauna a try the next time you’re feeling tired and stressed. You never know; you might wake up feeling like a new you.

Tips When Using Infrared Saunas

How you choose to use your infrared sauna is up to you. But there are guidelines to follow if you are to remain safe and get maximum benefits. Here are a few.

Start low and slow

When you are new to saunas, starting slow is always a good idea. Begin with lower temperatures, ideally 100°F and shorter sessions (10 to 15 min) until your body gets used to the heat. You can then gradually increase the temperature (150°F) and duration with time (20 to 30 min).

Hydrate

Infrared saunas will make you sweat like crazy. So, make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your steam session. This will keep you hydrated and prevent any potential heat exhaustion or dehydration.

Listen to your body

Your body will generally dictate how long your session will last. If at any point you start feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or generally uncomfortable, end your session early or take a break. Your health and safety come first.

Shower before and after sessions

Make sure to take a shower before and after sessions to remove any oils, dirt, and impurities from your body. This will prevent skin irritation and immensely improve the effectiveness of your sauna session.

Also, remember to clean up after yourself. Wipe down the sauna with a towel after your session to clean sweat and dirt. Carry all your personal items as you leave.

Your clothing matters

Avoid restrictive and heavy clothing while in the sauna. This interferes with your body’s ability to sweat and release toxins. Some people prefer wearing bathing suits, while others opt to go naked. The choice is yours.

Avoid stimulants and alcohol

Alcohol, stimulants, and tranquilizers, among other drugs, interfere with your body’s ability to regulate temperature. You may find it difficult to breathe, and also it increases your risk of dehydration. It’s best to avoid these drugs when using saunas.

While it’s clear that infrared saunas benefit your health, they are not always a good option. Avoid saunas if you have any of the following conditions:

• Pregnancy
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Epilepsy
• Extremely high or low blood pressure
• If you’re under tranquilizers, stimulants, or any mind-altering drugs
• Under the influence of alcohol

Conclusion 

Anything we’ve left out? I don’t think so. Now that you know all the health benefits of infrared saunas, check out our extensive selection of infrared saunas and grab one for yourself and another for your friend. Sharing is caring.

And feel free to contact us with any problems or questions. We are always happy to help!