What Are The Benefits of Infrared Saunas?
Have you been wanting some extra support when it comes to exercise recovery, reducing stress and improving sleep? Well put away the creatine monohydrate, the xanax tablets(anti anxiety meds) and the melatonin pills(Sleep tablets) because there are more natural and holistic ways to achieve these outcomes. They are known as heat and cold therapy. Both Infrared Saunas and Ice Baths are great ways to induce these benefits(see below).
What do Infrared Saunas Actually do?
It is a type of therapy that focuses on the use of heat to promote health benefits. Heat is primarily used to promote relaxation of the muscles (lowering instances of muscle spasm) and to accelerate the process of healing(by improving circulation).
This can be achieved by providing the heat locally (e.g., via a hot water bottle) or in a general environment (e.g., In a communal Sauna). The infrared sauna achieves both.
The top 10 benefits of Infrared Saunas:
1.) It improves recovery time from strenuous exercise or injury:
Heat stimulates a vasodilation (expanding of blood vessels) effect throughout the entire body which allows blood to flow more freely which allows tissues to get their vital nutrients for repair faster.
2.) Relaxes the nervous system and aids recovery from fatigue:
It is effective in relieving stress by reducing blood cortisol levels and releasing norepinephrine (The hormone opposite to adrenaline).
3.) Encourages better sleep (when done earlier in the day):
It releases tension from the nervous system that pays dividends when one is trying to sleep later that day.
4.) Deeply cleanses the body by eliminating toxins:
Waste products can get excreted through the process of sweating, ensuring that your cells as are as clean and efficient as possible.
5.) Promotes improved mental health:
The calming of the nervous system also relieves mental symptoms of stress (the root cause of ill mental health)
6.) Encourages improved digestion and nutrient absorption:
The improved circulation also stimulates the digestive enzymes in the gut which improves digestion time and enhances the breakdown of food into nutrients.
7.) It stimulates the immune system:
The improved circulation also hastens the transport of white blood cells, improving the recovery time from illness.
8.) It aids body remineralization:
When waste products are excreted via sweat, some minerals form from the waste products which get reabsorbed through the skin. Effectively throwing out what is useless and keeping what is useful.
9.) Soothes muscle aches and pains:
Heat relaxes muscle tissue, so that any spasms or tension present in the muscle can slowly dissipate.
10.) Helps you burn more calories:
Increasing one’s internal body temperature slightly, raises the rate at which you burn calories (raises your basal metabolic rate). So, you would burn more calories on the days that you use heat as a stimulus.