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Infrared Saunas Are IN For Summer

Temperatures are rising and the water is calling! It’s summer – time to get outside and enjoy the weather along with beaches, lakes, rivers, and pools. This is also the time when many dedicated sauna-goers abandon their infrared sessions for cooler activities. It seems reasonable, given that many of us use the infrared heat for relaxation, and now that weather has warmed you can do the same away from home.

But wait! Before you write off your infrared sauna in summer, there are a few things to consider.

Better Heat Tolerance

Whether or not you believe climate change is a reality, it’s evident that our summer temperatures seem to be rising every year. You may be a warm-weather person, but even the most heat-tolerant among us will reach a point where temps are beyond comfortable. Escaping to air-conditioned indoors becomes inevitable. For some people the AC goes on the minute the weather turns humid, and for others, it’s the last resort when ice water, ceiling fans, and tank tops have failed to provide enough relief.

Enter the infrared sauna!

Each of us has a varying level of heat tolerance and depending on where you live that can vary. Once you use an infrared sauna on a regular basis, you’ll notice improved endurance in warm weather or heated situations. A 20-30 minute session offers the most robust benefits. Whether it means being able to sit in the sun longer or acclimating well to indoor climates above 75 or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, infrared sessions can aid you in the long run.

A recent U.S. study done in 2021 confirmed, “Repeated sauna use acclimates the body to heat and optimizes the body’s response to future exposures, likely due to a biological phenomenon known as hormesis.” Hormesis at its most basic is cells adapting to a stressor, which in this case is high heat.

If you’re an athlete or if you exercise often, you’ll experience results differently. Being able to endure heat at higher levels will help increase performance as your body will feel less fatigued and you’ll sustain energy levels longer. You’ll also recover faster.

One thing is essential when experiencing heat exposure, and that is proper hydration. Read on…

H-2-O For Hydration

Everyone, from doctors to nutritionists to fitness coaches, agrees that any sauna experience should include proper hydration. This means having fluids before and even during an infrared session. Since saunas are designed for high heat penetration, the first thing your body will do is sweat, which means a loss of fluids. It’s important that you’re properly hydrated and replace these fluids so you don’t get heat stroke and faint. It also helps aid your kidney function as it eliminates toxins.

Just like you would hydrate before or during a workout, you’ll want to prep before entering the sauna. Water is best, but sports drinks will work as well.

When choosing a sports drink, be sure it has a proper amount of potassium and sodium. Drinks with electrolytes are good because they help replenish mineral loss when you sweat while also helping you absorb fluids.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol drinks, as those can actually dehydrate you and will tax your liver and kidneys further. Stick to water and you’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed once your sauna session is complete.

When your sauna session is over and you’ve dried off, you should definitely reach for some water if you didn’t have any during your session. While you might not feel thirsty immediately, your body will definitely thank you.

So, you’ve built your heat tolerance, stayed hydrated and you’re feeling much more energetic? Great! Let’s talk about another way setting regular sauna visits can help during summer.

Boost Immunity Before Winter

As soon as the summer ends and the weather starts to cool off again, you’ll start to see flyers for flu shots and commercials for cough medicine. Winter seems to hail the onset of viruses as if it’s just part of the cycle of life. But it doesn’t have to be!

What infrared can help with, and science has confirmed, is building our immune defenses. But why wait until fall or winter to start enhancing your health? By taking time to use your sauna every week during summer, you can ensure a hardier immune system. Imagine sailing through winter with nary a sniffle. Wouldn’t that be great?

The way that infrared saunas can help is fairly simple. As your core temperature heats up, your cells, like when you have a fever, start to have an immune response. Of course, you also want to maintain a good diet and incorporate exercise into your lifestyle, but an infrared sauna is a great tool to jumpstart and maintain good health.

Take advantage of summer downtime and don’t let your sauna gather dust—get in and stay healthy.

Sauna Best Practices

Do drink water before, during, and even after a sauna session, since you’ll deplete fluids via sweat
Do try to spend an average of 20 minutes per session to get the most benefits from infrared heat penetration
Do rinse or towel off after a sauna session, since salts produced via sweat can clog pores
Do follow any medical guidelines if you have health conditions, before using the sauna
Do use the sauna after exercise or sports participation as a way to recover quicker and to relax muscles
Do enjoy the sauna as a way to build heat tolerance, especially during warmer weather months

And…

Don’t drink alcohol or caffeine drinks before or during your sauna session as they’ll dehydrate you
Don’t eat an hour or two before a sauna session as food will require energy for digestion and your heart will already be working harder from the intense heat
Don’t start off with long sessions if you’re new to saunas, rather limit sessions to 5-10 minutes or lower the temperature in your sauna as you get started

Health Mate offers a variety of saunas, some that are portable and use a smaller footprint, others that can offer the comfort of cabin space. Make sauna sessions social by inviting a friend with a larger, two- or three-person model. There’s an affordable sauna for every lifestyle.

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Skin Deep: Beauty Benefits From Infrared

Infrared saunas have become synonymous with relaxation and even pain relief. Doctors and naturopaths agree that infrared is a valid treatment for stress, recovery, and pain. There are added benefits as well, many of which we’re really just beginning to understand. Two benefits that are also related to health are cellulite reduction and collagen production. And each of these “beauty” benefits can be achieved with the help of far-infrared and near-infrared light therapy.

Yes, you can experience youthful, more healthy skin from infrared sauna sessions! This doesn’t mean you should throw out your moisturizer or scrap your fitness routine. Infrared works as a complement to a healthy diet, exercise, and regular care of your body.

Let’s find out what’s going on that makes infrared beneficial for your skin.

Understanding Cellulite

Cellulite affects the cosmetic appearance of your skin, typically your thighs, stomach, or rear end. It shows up as a lumpy or dimpled appearance on the surface. Interestingly, 80-90% of women have cellulite as compared to 10% of men. Experts believe this is because women produce more estrogen than men, and “one of estrogen’s many functions is stimulating the storage of fat.”

Cellulite results when “fibrous bands connecting your skin to the underlying muscle tighten irregularly.” The result is a puckered appearance on the skin. Some call it orange peel or cottage cheese thighs. Whatever you name it, it’s not harmful, but it’s not considered attractive.

How to remove cellulite is an age-old quandary. Skin creams and lotions, even massage, aren’t super effective in reducing what some call ‘the other cheek’ dimples.

So, then how does infrared support a beauty routine?

Fat vs Cellulite: Are they the same?

Cellulite can appear as another layer of fat that stubbornly clings to thighs and other areas, seemingly impossible to get rid of. It’s a condition that’s hard to treat effectively. Hormones play a part for sure, but there’s more to it.

Medical researchers determined that cellulite occurs within the adipose tissue. Additionally, “decreased blood flow in this (cellulite-prone) region of the body makes it difficult for lipids to be released from the adipose tissue and also leads to water retention, which further contributes to cellulite.”

Here’s the interesting part: Adipose tissue, also called brown fat, can be stimulated by heat.

Underlying Results

Infrared heat quickly and painlessly penetrates the body, heating from the inside out. In the process, it stimulates cellulite, or adipose tissue, nearest the surface of your skin. This tissue or ‘brown fat’ is what helps us insulate and stay warm in cooler temperatures. It’s not necessarily bad. In fact, we need a certain amount of it in our bodies.

However, this increased circulation and energy produced from infrared heat stimulates the brown fat which in turn helps burn off detrimental white fat. White fat, or visceral fat, is what can cause serious health issues, including obesity. As visceral fat builds up, it can press against the adipose tissue, causing a bumpy appearance of the skin, or cellulite. As it burns off, cellulite is reduced.

So, while cellulite is not so much unwanted fat as tissue, infrared is a support factor in cellulite reduction and improved health. One study combined infrared with other treatments to reach positive, safe results.

But, how else can infrared help our appearance? Keep reading!

Understanding Collagen

If you’re looking for something to help your skin stay looking young you’ve seen the myriad of products incorporating collagen or supplements you can take. Collagen is a protein found throughout the body. It’s found in the structure of our skin, bones, cartilage, and muscle and helps tissues stay elastic and pliable.

Our bodies naturally produce collagen but as we age that production slows. One of its functions is to help skin retain moisture, so a lack of collagen leads to drier skin and wrinkles.

Bad habits like smoking, poor diet, and dehydration accelerate the appearance of wrinkles. Turning these bad habits into good ones helps keep wrinkles at bay. Collagen supplements were created to add to our diet to keep us looking and feeling youthful and healthy.

It turns out that infrared therapy can do the same

Smooth Moves: Collagen And Infrared

Many of us are on a quest, searching for skin solutions as we age. And not just for our face but also for our neck, chest, and arms. There are thousands of cosmetic options, from moisturizers to laser peels and even surgery. Collagen is the one thing we all could use more of as we age.

Several studies have shown infrared can enhance collagen production, safely and regularly.

We shared in a previous article that a small study done in Asia showed, that “the content of collagen and elastin produced increased after infrared radiation proportional to the duration of exposure. Following treatment, all patients reported good (51-75%) improvements in skin texture and roughness.”

Several years later another study concluded that “Infrared irradiation provides safe and effective long-term stimulation of collagen I and III and elastin, which is beneficial for improving skin laxity and wrinkles.”

Additionally, New York board-certified dermatologist Dr. Maria Garshick also believes infrared be beneficial. She shared, “Infrared is next to red light on the electromagnetic spectrum, but because it is a longer wavelength, it can penetrate deeper—so it can be helpful for healing and skin regeneration, even on its own.”

What we’ve learned overall is that infrared, while it penetrates beneath the skin, can help improve appearance as much as our overall health. Doctors and scientists are discovering more about this holistic health approach each year.

Health Mate saunas are designed with your health in mind. Learn more about our models and the variety of benefits you can experience from regular sauna therapy.

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Do Infrared Saunas Help With Detoxification?

More people are making wellness a priority than ever before, and infrared sauna therapy has become a popular part of wellness treatment nationwide. Saunas are regarded as a key to good health, both as a preventative tool and treatment method. One of the popular benefits of infrared saunas is that they help with detoxification.

Each time you use a sauna, detoxification occurs via perspiration, a direct response to the intense heat from infrared wavelengths. It’s a safe process that provides immediate results.

Paired with a healthy diet and exercise, infrared therapy can complete the perfect trifecta of an established wellness routine. But how does it work and what toxins are being released, exactly?

Let’s examine further.

How Infrared Works

Infrared Saunas are designed for regular use as a way to help you relax, recover, and improve your health. What’s unique about infrared compared to other saunas is that the heat is emitted at a lower temperature than a steam or rock sauna. Rather than heat the air around you, it heats your body from inside out and penetrates deep into skin and muscle layers.

Soon after entering the sauna, you’ll start to sweat, and this is normal, even desirable. Heaters are strategically placed for maximum results. With Health Mate full spectrum saunas, the combination of three wavelengths, near-, mid-, and far, provides a myriad of benefits.

Near-infrared heat is delivered via LED lighting. The mid and far range are delivered via our patented dual micron heaters that emit a full 360-degree surround of heat, safely and within minutes.

As your body heats up and you begin to sweat, you’ll feel your muscles start to relax. Your core will warm and your circulation will improve as your heart rate increases. You’ll experience benefits that may not seem apparent. One of the most immediate benefits is that infrared will help with detoxification. During a single 20–30-minute session, your body can undergo a significant amount of cleansing. Afterward, you’ll feel refreshed, much like after a good fitness workout.

Sweat And Toxin Release

There are some conflicting reports that suggest infrared therapy causes water loss and a little salt secretion via sweating but no flushing of anything else through your skin.

However, studies have shown that infrared sauna therapy will induce a detox through sweat that actually supports the liver and kidney function.

We all have a certain amount of toxins in our bodies. Doctors use the term ‘bio-accumulators’ to explain how our system accumulates all sorts of by-products from our air, food, and water faster than we can expel them. Sometimes we don’t properly expel them at all. This includes toxic chemicals, pollutants, and heavy metals. Research suggests that many metals are carcinogens, including arsenic, lead, and mercury. Exposure levels to these toxins may vary depending on where you live.

Infrared sessions enjoyed on a regular basis can aid in the elimination of toxins. They can even help people on dialysis by increasing blood flow and relieving the load on their kidneys. As always, you need to stay properly hydrated. Also, check with a medical advisor before making sauna therapy part of your regular routine.

Your Optimal Sauna Routine

To optimize your time and results from your infrared sauna sessions, it’s good to develop a routine. While it might take little time to prepare, there are some key things to keep in mind before, during, and after use:

Before entering the sauna, make sure that you’re hydrated. Since your body temperature is going to increase and you’re going to sweat, you want to be sure to drink plenty of water.
As you’re starting out, limit your sessions to 5-10 minutes and increase by a few minutes each time until you work up to 20 or 30 minutes maximum.
If you work out or exercise before using the sauna, be sure to wipe or rinse off any sweat buildup since it contains salt that can clog your pores and lead to acne troubles.
Be sure to wear clothing that can easily and comfortably absorb sweat. We recommend wearing a terry cloth robe or using a towel to wipe away sweat.
After using the sauna you’ll want to quickly shower or towel off, for the same reason as above.
When your sauna session is complete, don’t forget to rehydrate with more water. You may also want to apply moisturizer to your skin since the heat from the sauna tends to cause dryness.

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Can Infrared Therapy Treat Chronic Pain?

Ever wanted to go for a dip in the fountain of youth? You’re not alone! Maybe the thought was prompted by a pulled muscle or a neck strain, a reminder that you weren’t as young as you once were. Everyone has experienced some similar at some point, and as we age we are more susceptible to discomfort or pain.

In fact, recent medical industry reports reveal that 1 in 5 adult Americans experience chronic pain. This includes prolonged muscle pain, joint pain, tension, and nerve issues.

Good news! There’s a natural solution that doesn’t require a prescription, and the results are incredibly positive!

Infrared therapy has little to no side effects. It’s also non-invasive and can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own home. What could be more convenient?

If you’ve ever experienced chronic or prolonged pain, keep reading.

Arthritis And Infrared Therapy

Stiffness, swelling, and aching joints are common arthritis symptoms, a condition that affects up to 24% of U.S. adults. It’s also been the most frequently reported main cause of disability for nearly twenty years. We used to hear primarily of seniors who suffered from arthritis, but more and more it’s affecting the younger, working population. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a severe and rarer version, is considered an autoimmune disorder and can be seriously debilitating.

No matter the level and intensity, arthritis can cause missed work and social activity and lower your quality of life. While exercises can be done to alleviate the pain, exercise can cause pain and inflammation. This vicious cycle is difficult to break to begin the healing process.

With infrared sauna therapy, arthritis sufferers can enjoy immediate relief in as little as 30 minutes a day. A study done specifically with RA patients resulted in decreased pain, along with a side bonus—reduced fatigue. Infrared helps is via far-infrared heat which penetrates the body deep enough to increase blood circulation. That in turn increases the oxygen delivered to muscles that have been depleted. In addition, the improved circulation helps flush out edema, trapped fluid in tissues that causes swelling and inflammation.

You can reap the benefits infrared has to offer in a half-size, Essential Lounge. Or, you can have a whole-body experience with an enclosed, full spectrum sauna that offers a range of infrared benefits.

Good-bye, Migraines

If you’ve ever had a headache, you know it can throw off your focus or functioning. For the migraine sufferer, this pain and tension can last days on end. And while there are holistic treatments like acupuncture and meditation, many who get migraines find those aren’t effective remedies.

Enter light therapy. The more scientific term is photobiomodulation or Chromotherapy, and it has been used to treat a variety of health issues. Light stimulation may sound like a terrible idea to a migraine sufferer who has acute light sensitivity.

However, Green light therapy provides proven migraine relief. It emits a lower dose of infrared that when administered, resulted in a success rate of 60% reduction in pain; that’s substantial! The study showed that “Green light therapy shortened the duration of headaches, and improved participants’ ability to fall and stay asleep, perform chores, exercise, and work.”

Health Mate offers light therapy in many of its infrared sauna models. See the other benefits of Chromotherapy—a great alternative to migraine medication without the serious side effects.

Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What used to be a misdiagnosed or overlooked health issue has recently been given more serious attention in the medical world. The symptoms? Extreme exhaustion, pain, and sleep disruptions. Women tend to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome more than men. It can even include cold-like symptoms such as sore throat or headaches. No amount of sleep seems to help, and it often goes undiagnosed for months.

Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be a prescriptive treatment for this affliction, which can last years and even a lifetime.

Infrared therapy has helped with many of the typical symptoms, based on small studies conducted in more recently. It also benefits people with fibromyalgia, which shares some of the same symptoms as chronic fatigue. Doctors attribute both illnesses to what they term “compromised detoxification pathways”. This is where patients’ bodies aren’t properly flushing out toxins, particularly from heavy metals. They fully endorse infrared therapy as a solution.

Spending as little as 20-30 minutes in an infrared sauna lets you sweat just as much as you would during a fitness workout, but without exertion.

Detoxification using infrared saunas can be the key to fending off a range of illnesses and improving the immune system.

Muscle And Back Pain Relief

To ice or to heat? That is often the question when it comes to treating general muscle pain, spasms, and back injuries. Each method has its own merits and can be used alternately to relieve or reduce pain.

Ice packs are often recommended immediately after an injury to reduce inflammation. Heat wins out for stiffness, soreness, and joint pain that lasts over several days, weeks, or as a chronic condition. Since we know infrared heat increases blood flow, particularly far-infrared with its deeper penetration, the result is that muscles receive more oxygen and can recover quicker. In addition, infrared therapy can enhance flexibility and improve performance.

Overall, rest and relaxation can relieve sore and injured muscles. Including regular sessions in an infrared sauna will result in a speedier recovery so you can be back to lifting groceries—or weights—sooner rather than later.

Consider investing in a personal home sauna if you suffer from chronic pain. Learn about all of the health and wellness benefits that Health Mate infrared saunas can provide by taking our sauna quiz to find out which one suits your lifestyle best.

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How Infrared Saunas Can Boost Your Immune System

Immune System Basics

We come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, yet one thing we all have in common is that we like pizza! That could be an urban myth. One thing that we for sure have in common is that we’re born with an internal germ warfare system—our immune system.

As children, we were shooed outside to “go play in the dirt” to build up our immune system, which apparently works! Yet we don’t really think much about our immune system until we’re ill.

Your immune system works in the background, fighting the good fight. Your white blood cells, called leukocytes, are key to warding off anything attacking your body or immune system. Anything that has been detected and tracked is caught in your lymph nodes, which is why having a healthy lymphatic system is so essential.

Overall, you want to develop a healthy, balanced lifestyle to keep your body from depleting its immune capabilities.

Here are a few key benefits of having a healthy immune system:

Quicker recovery from surgery or illness
Improved protection from viruses
Faster infection-fighting response
Lowered stress and anxiety
Sounder sleep

Maybe you’re already eating plenty of green, leafy vegetables, exercising, and sleeping well? You can still get off balance while simultaneously being exposed to more toxins and pollution than we realize—daily. But let’s not discuss agricultural aggravators or industrial culprits that negatively affect our food and environment.

Let’s focus on how infrared saunas can help build your body’s ability to fight off what might ail it and keep you strong and healthy.

Let’s Talk About Sweat

Our body naturally cools itself and prevents us from overheating or fainting by sweating.

When you sit in an infrared sauna, you will naturally begin to sweat. Setting the temperature between 110- and 130-degrees Fahrenheit is a comfortable range that ensures you get the most from your sauna. First-time users may start at lower temps to get acclimated.

Once you’re inside, the wavelengths are going to penetrate your skin and cause your body temperature to rise. The most obvious and immediate result will be your skin producing extra moisture as it perspires.

What we don’t always realize is how our skin plays a role in our immune system. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases notes, “The skin is usually the first line of defense against microbes. Skin cells produce and secrete important antimicrobial proteins, and immune cells can be found in specific layers of skin.”

Many people use their infrared sauna for detoxification, which studies have found is a direct benefit of sauna therapy. This detox process, which happens through your sweat, can help eliminate some harmful heavy metals and other pollutants, like PCBs and BPAs, from your system. While your kidneys do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to detoxing your system, it’s one key benefit that comes from spending time in infrared heat.

Plus, it feels good once you’ve worked up a sweat, toweled or showered off, and cooled back down. Some equate the benefits of an infrared session to a good jog or run, which we don’t always have the luxury of doing, especially once the weather gets too chilly. However, you can burn calories as you sweat. Staying hydrated is also recommended before, after, or during a session.

Is Your Immune System Fighting Back?

As we get older, our immune system response has to work harder. Some attribute poor nutrition to reduced immunity response. Some experts have concluded there’s a reduction in T cells. News Medical Life Sciences defines them; “T cells are a part of the immune system that focuses on eliminating specific foreign particles, antigens. As such, T cells play a critical part in immunity to foreign substances.”

Medical experts have long known that your immune system is triggered into action when your body heats to above normal temperatures. A fever, as long as it’s within a safe range, can be a good thing in keeping temperature-sensitive bacteria and viruses from multiplying. And, yes, this includes viruses like the widespread COVID-19.

An infrared sauna can produce deep enough heating via far-infrared wavelengths to mimic a fever but without the harm or resulting inflammation. This activates your body into producing an innate immune response, often with additional beneficial outcomes such as increased circulation, improved metabolism, and better cardiovascular health.

Some people have found infrared heat helps them heal faster after having an illness or surgery. Since they may not be mobile enough to exercise vigorously, it’s an ideal solution for safe, no-impact recovery.

Start With Reducing Anxiety and Stress

Everyone deals with stress differently, and exercise and nutrition can play a big part in helping us manage it effectively. When not kept in check, stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on our immune system response.

A certain level of stress is healthy since we want to be able to respond to danger with our “fight or flight” system intact. Adrenaline produces cortisol, also called the stress hormone. However, we reduce our ability to fight illness when we have high blood pressure or too much cortisol in our system.

Stress can also inhibit digestion. And as many medical experts have reported, the digestive system is responsible for producing healthy bacteria and immune cells. In fact, according to a recent UCLA Health study, 70% of the immune system is in the gut.

So, what part of infrared therapy helps with stress?

Chromotherapy, known also as color therapy, is a method used to induce calm and tranquility. Near-infrared wavelengths when produced at the proper intensity and combined with certain color lighting can promote relaxation and improve your mood. There have been multiple studies done to corroborate this finding. In addition, mid-infrared wavelengths will relax the muscles and provide rejuvenation. Even the well-respected Mayo Clinic endorses infrared sauna therapy for relaxation.

Now you’re in the Know About Infrared and Immunity

While there is plenty of information about infrared therapy, we want to encourage you to take proper precautions based on your medical history, health, and research yourself.

Always be careful not to overtax or stress your body beyond what’s safe. Just like exercising, there’s a sweet spot on how much or how little time you should spend in your sauna. Keep your infrared sauna sessions to the 20–30-minute range for best results.

The ideal infrared sauna is one that combines all levels of infrared, meaning near-, mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. Together they provide the maximum benefits and ultimate outcome from an infrared sauna experience.

Health Mate calls it full-spectrum infrared. It combines our patented Tecoloy heaters with mid- and far-infrared waves, dual micron technology, along with chromotherapy, or near-infrared, panels. Our bestselling Enrich 2 and Restore models were designed with full-spectrum heating so you have the option of a more extensive level of therapy.

All of Health Mate’s infrared saunas are made with 100% solid, eco-friendly wood that is sustainably sourced and naturally anti-microbial. For more information on our infrared sauna models, contact our knowledgeable sales team and learn how you can enjoy the benefits an infrared sauna imparts in order to maintain good health, including a healthy immune system.

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What’s So Great About Tecoloy Heaters?

Health and fitness are so much a part of many people’s everyday lifestyles that home gyms and workout equipment are more common than ever. Working out in your own living room is easy, thanks to online memberships and personal training apps.

Just as fitness has become more home-centered, infrared sauna ownership has also become more popular. What used to be considered a luxury item enjoyed by celebrities and fitness fanatics is much more attainable. People are spending more on self-care, and saunas are more affordable. Plus, the maintenance required for a sauna is minimal

And as infrared saunas improve, what sets each apart the most is the infrared heaters.

But the question is, which infrared sauna to buy?

Health Mate strives to provide the safest and most effective infrared heat in a sauna. That’s why we developed and patented our own Tecoloy™ heaters featured in the majority of our models. It’s a key aspect that sets us apart from other sauna vendors.

What Is A Tecoloy Heater?

Health Mate relied on German engineering to design a unique, dual-wave micron infrared heater. This Tecoloy™ heater offers the highest watt density of any other infrared heater on the market. It’s also safe and non-toxic. The heaters are manufactured by Baker Heating Technologies, a leading U.S. heating company.

What does dual-wave mean? Great question.

Infrared heat comes in a spectrum of wavelengths. The dual micron waves produce a wider than the typical range of emissions, considered full-circle heat. That 360-degree heat emits both mid- and far-range infrared. This means your body reaches a high core temperature quickly at the highest level of penetration.

Unlike steam saunas that surround the air with heat, this state-of-the-art technology delivers penetrating wavelengths that ensure you’ll sweat more and sweat faster at a lower temperature. Tecoloy™ heaters reached desired temps quicker than most saunas, so you can start your session sooner.

How Long Do Tecoloy Heaters Last?

Once you purchase an infrared sauna, you want it to last, right? Saunas can be considered a substantial investment. Health Mate prides itself on providing the highest quality and most durable sauna materials available, so you definitely get your money’s worth.

For more than forty years we’ve been manufacturing our own saunas in our own factory. In fact, for years we made the very saunas our competitors sold until their models and approach changed.

The typical sauna relies on carbon heaters that last about 10 years, maybe longer with extra care. That may seem like a long time, but we knew it could be better. Lots of time and research went into our proprietary Tecoloy, made from incoloy and alloy, to ensure they would last 15-20 years or more. For most of us, that’s longer than our cars!

We’re thrilled when a customer reports back that they’ve owned their Health Mate sauna for decades. Generally, minor parts are all that need replacing to continue use. Additionally, our Tecoloy™ heaters are part of the Health Mate warranty, which covers them for a lifetime.

Tecoloy and Full Spectrum Infrared

The term full spectrum originated with Health Mate, which simply means an infrared experience that combines all three levels of wavelengths—near, mid, and far. To deliver full-spectrum infrared we combine our Tecoloy heaters with a near-infrared LED panel. Near-infrared produces an effective form of infrared heat called chromotherapy, or light therapy.

You may have read about the benefits of light therapy, including Red light. Medical and scientific studies have shown it improves our cellular function. Each of the varied colors in light therapy has its own benefits.

This near-infrared light and heat combined with the mid- and far-infrared in a sauna result in a complete infrared therapy session. You can experience a host of benefits from the full spectrum.

Importance of Low EMF

One of the biggest concerns with infrared heat is the electromagnetic frequency (EMF) emitted since EMFs at certain levels can be considered harmful. Many scientific studies have been done to determine what is harmful. Fortunately, they’ve concluded that non-ionizing radiation produced by infrared saunas is considered safe, posing no significant health risk.

Simply put, non-ionizing or Low EMF can heat an object safely, while X-rays or longer exposure to ultraviolet rays can be harmful. If you’ve ever gotten sunburned, you’re familiar.

An objective 3rd party conducted a test of our own heaters in order to ensure our saunas are within safe ranges of infrared emissions. All of our Health Mate saunas are considered low EMF.

Radiation surrounds us daily, via cell phones, kitchen appliances, and of course, the sun. We encourage you to stay educated and review a more detailed explanation about low EMF saunas at your convenience.

Health Mate has been in the infrared sauna business for more than 40 years. We’ll continue innovating sauna technology because preventive health care is the sensible approach to wellness. After all, it’s more fun sitting in a sauna than in a doctor’s office, right?

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Do Saunas Help You Lose Weight?

There are many reasons to purchase a sauna, with one of the most sought-after benefits being weight loss. Eating healthy and being active is great for weight loss, however, over time it can become increasingly difficult to continue making progress. While weight loss is one of the more challenging health goals people face, there is an easy and doable solution that can assist you in your pursuit of better health through weight loss, purchasing an infrared sauna.

An infrared sauna is a great tool to use when it comes to your health. But does a sauna burn calories and really aid in weight loss? It’s estimated that there are anywhere from 200-600 calories burned in a sauna session that lasts 30 minutes or longer. Burning that many calories is equivalent to jogging or swimming for an hour. While jogging and swimming can be taxing on the body, sitting in an infrared sauna can be performed by anyone. To answer the question, do saunas help you lose weight? Absolutely, an infrared sauna is a great tool to incorporate into your weight loss plan.

“It’s estimated that there are anywhere from 200-600 calories burned in a sauna session that lasts 30 minutes or longer.”

One of the main reasons infrared sauna weight loss works is due to the mid and far-infrared light. As they are able to penetrate the skin and reach a deeper level of body tissue compared to a traditional sauna. A common misconception is that weight loss caused by an infrared sauna is temporary. However, what is really being observed is the quick loss and gain of “water weight”. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital states, “the magic number is 5% of your total body weight; that’s when we see clinically significant physiological changes.”

When searching for a sauna to aid in your weight loss journey, it’s important to factor in the quality of the materials, the heater, and who the company is. Many sauna companies use materials that contain toxins in the wood, heaters, and other components such as glue that your body will then absorb. While this sounds scary, it’s easy to navigate away from bad materials through simple and quick research on the brand. Health Mate, in particular, has been producing infrared saunas the longest out of all their competitors. Has a five-stage quality control system to ensure your sauna is up to Health Mate standards, and they only use the best materials that are toxic-free. Since 1979, Health Mate has been producing saunas and aiding in its customer’s pursuit of better health through weight loss as you can see here.

“The magic number is 5% of your total body weight; that’s when we see clinically significant physiological changes.” ~ Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford

Another key topic to research when choosing an infrared sauna is the financing options they offer. As this will show how far your dollar can really go. Some infrared sauna brands offer little to no financing options and also don’t offer different sizing options of their saunas. This is another area where Health Mate is superior. With multiple sizing options and financing available, purchasing their infrared sauna is less of a towering financial commitment. You can also purchase exactly what you’d like, in the size that best suits your needs.

Overall, utilizing an infrared sauna on top of your daily health habits can certainly help you lose weight. Through increasing your metabolism, increasing your heart rate, and regulating your body’s stress and cortisol levels, an infrared sauna (Health Mate in particular) is an extremely wise investment.

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Infrared Sauna Wood: Which Is Best?

Wood is the second most important factor to consider when choosing an infrared sauna, after heaters. Not only do wood appearances differ, but each has different properties that make it a better or worse choice for in-home saunas.

When looking at sauna woods, important factors to consider include:

Durability
Water resistance
Bacterial resistance
Toxicity/allergens
Odor
Heat Conduction
Sustainability/Eco-Friendly

Below are some of the most popular sauna woods and their pros and cons.

Western Red Cedar

Cedar has long been the standard for infrared sauna wood. Not only does it have a pleasant scent and attractive red color, but it is naturally mold and insect resistant.

It is a low-density softwood, meaning that while it insulates heat it also doesn’t absorb too much of the heat or become overly hot to the touch. That can be an issue for higher-density hardwoods.

However, that low density comes with a price: Cedar is actually easy to dent and scratch. While cedar saunas typically last a long time, they can get dinged fairly easily. Protecting your sauna is key, especially if it’s kept outside or used in a gym.

Cedar is also a known allergen, so the smell of cedar can be irritating to those with certain sensitivities.

Additionally, Western Red Cedar is difficult to grow and harvest sustainably and safely, which gives it a much higher price tag than other woods. Recently, it’s become less available and difficult to procure.

Basswood

Basswood is the basic, no-frills choice for infrared sauna woods. It’s inexpensive, relatively durable, and has the advantage of being hypoallergenic (if properly prepared and treated). It has a neutral, pale brown color that blends well with light-colored furnishings and decor.

As a hypoallergenic wood, it has no distinctive scent, which can be positive or negative depending on what you find desirable in a sauna.

One downside to basswood is its longevity. It is not as water or bacteria-resistant as other woods. This means that as an infrared sauna wood, it may have a limited lifespan.

Poplar

Poplar is another hypoallergenic alternative wood for saunas. This pale yellow color wood has an even grain that’s free of knots.

Unlike basswood, which needs to be treated to be hypoallergenic, poplar has no natural phenols, making it a “natural” hypoallergenic choice. And like basswood, it has no scent.

Poplar and basswood surfaces get much hotter in saunas than softwoods like cedar and hemlock. However, since infrared saunas run at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, it’s less of an issue.

Despite being abundant, poplar is a surprisingly expensive sauna wood, sometimes more so than cedar. And unlike cedar, it has limited natural defenses against rot and bugs.

Hemlock

Hemlock is similar to cedar in that it has a distinct scent and is a softwood. It’s also one of the cheapest sauna woods available, far less expensive than cedar. And again, softwoods are more comfortable to the touch since the surface doesn’t get as hot as hardwoods.

Hemlock also produces a pleasant odor. While it isn’t hypoallergenic, many people find the woody scent enjoyable during their sauna experience.

However, hemlock deteriorates very easily. It should not be used outdoors, and like cedar, it’s susceptible to dents and scratches but has none of the rot resistance.

Pine

Pine is the most easily sourced, least expensive sauna wood. It’s a knotty, pale wood that is commonly used in all sorts of construction because it’s affordable and easy to work with.

Like cedar and hemlock, pine is notable for its scent, which is usually more noticeable as it heats up. Depending on a person’s preference, that can be positive or negative.

Unfortunately, pine does not hold up well to the elements. In addition, heat fluctuations inherent in infrared saunas can lead to a shorter lifespan of a pine wood unit.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is one of the few kinds of wood used for saunas, aside from cedar, that boasts natural insect and rot resistance. It’s a durable and long-lasting hardwood: in fact, it’s often used as an alternative to teak for outdoor furniture.

Eucalyptus can have great variations in color and grain. It sometimes changes color as it ages. It’s considered sustainable and eco-friendly because it grows quickly in a variety of environments without needing lots of space.

Though eucalyptus is a popular scent, eucalyptus wood saunas have no noticeable scent, which is good for people sensitive to smell. Also, since it has phenols that repel insects and bacteria, it can contain potential allergens.

While eucalyptus stands up well to high heat and moisture, it can be susceptible to extreme cold if left unprotected. If using your sauna outside, it’s a good idea to seal and protect the wood.

Ultimately, there are pros and cons to each wood option for infrared saunas. When selecting your sauna, think about your personal needs and preferences, as well as how you’ll be using and storing it.

Besides the wood, it’s also important to consider heating, warranty, value, and size when considering a sauna. Get in touch with our Health Mate sauna specialists to learn more.

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Importance of Low EMF

“It’s estimated that there are anywhere from 200-600 calories burned in a sauna session that lasts 30 minutes or longer.”

“The magic number is 5% of your total body weight; that’s when we see clinically significant physiological changes.” ~ Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford

Western Red Cedar

Basswood

Poplar

Hemlock

Pine

Eucalyptus

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