Infrared Saunas are popping up everywhere. They promise to help you get glowing skin, improve your mood, relax your muscles, and more. Woman Gaga swears that the treatment helps with her chronic pain, Jennifer Aniston enjoys hitting the sauna following a workout, and many others are addicted to the skin benefits a 30-minute session seems to bring. The Kardashians, Gwyneth, and other Real Housewives also love it. Are there infrared health benefits?
Infrared saunas promise a laundry list of health benefits, from improved circulation to pain relief and elimination of poisons. As with many health fads, it is worth doing your research to find out if these claims are true.
Infrared Saunas: How They Work
Saunas are enticing because they produce reactions similar to those induced by exercise, like sweating and an elevated heart rate. If you have ever been to a traditional sauna, you are probably aware of the steam created by the water and new stones. This is what warms up the room, as well as you. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, use infrared light, which is a type of sunlight that can’t be seen by humans but that we feel as heat. Infrared light “directly heats your body,” according to dermatologist Joshua Zeichner MD, based in New York.
According to holistic nutritionist Lauren Berlingeri and co-founder at HigherDOSE, this heat up of the body occurs frequently, which results in a “vigorous sweat with a lower, more comfortable temperature.”
Benefits of Infrared Sauna
Infrared Saunas claim that the sun penetrates deeper into the skin than a traditional sauna. This results in more sweating and a greater release of “toxins.”
Sleeping more deeply
Rest
Cleaning
Weight loss
Reduce sore muscles
Reduce joint pain equivalent to arthritis
Skin that is clear and tighter
Increased circulation
Help for people with persistent fatigue syndrome
Companies like HigherDOSE, which provide infrared saunas, claim to be able to deliver these results at lower temperatures than a regular sauna. This makes it available to people who cannot tolerate the heat of a standard sauna. But does this translate into tangible health benefits?
It is well known that people have used saunas for centuries for a variety of health conditions. There are many studies and research on traditional saunas. However, there aren’t as numerous researches that focus specifically on infrared Saunas. In the absence of solid proof and extensive research on the possible benefits of infrared Saunas, we are left to rely on the claims of the companies that offer the infrared technology.
The Truth About Infrared Saunas
What can science say about these fancy light bins? While the research is still limited, numerous studies have shown that infrared Saunas are beneficial to your health in a number of ways. While many of the claims that infrared Saunas are a miracle technology don’t hold up, there are a few. Here’s what we found.
Infrared Saunas Cleanse Your Body
Fats can store dangerous toxins such as heavy metals and artificial chemicals. These toxins are released by burning fat and then excreted through sweat. Infrared Saunas make you sweat but they don’t trigger fat burning. This means they won’t help your body remove toxins.
She says that sweat can release some toxins, but that’s not its main purpose. The kidneys and liver are responsible for detoxifying the body. They do a great job, so much that sweat is not able to help. For most people, sweating a lot doesn’t help them detoxify. Because the kidneys do it. Sweat is essential to keep us cool.
Infrared saunas can reduce joint pain
This is the first benefit I could find for infrared Saunas. Infrared Saunas are proven to reduce joint pain and stiffness for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Irradiated Saunas Fight Cancer
Now we are in the woods. Infrared saunas are promoted by more militant people who claim that they can help the immune system fight cancer, remove carcinogenic chemicals from the body, and even kill cancer cells. There is no evidence to support any of these claims.
Infrared Saunas Improve Cardiovascular Health
Some of the main causes of coronary heart disease are inflexible blood vessels. It is therefore good to make them more flexible for the long term. Infrared saunas can also improve your blood vessel’s ability to adapt and increase in response to changes in blood pressure.
Although I still have as many questions about infrared Saunas as I do answers, I know that they produce a similar feeling to the endorphin rush one gets after learning, but without getting the benefits of knowing. You’ll sweat. You’ll sweat. Your skin will glow for a brief time. It could be a floral wellness experience, depending on where you are.
Infrared saunas are believed to have some health benefits, including reduced joint pain and stiffness, and improved blood vessel performance. Infrared Saunas are not able to do everything that people hope. They can’t detoxify your body, help you lose weight faster, boost your immune system or prevent cancer. If you are looking for a new way to defrost your body this winter, try it. Be realistic about your expectations before you go. I’ve heard that they will be very pushy with the different session packages.
