An infrared sauna is an ideal choice for overall relaxation–an escape for body, mind, and soul. But a home sauna is good for treating more than aches or pains. Think of it as a preventative health maintenance tool. Just like eating healthier food and exercising can help ward off disease, regular infrared sessions will help maintain your body’s internal defense system, too. Whether used daily or less frequently, research has shown that when it comes to immune strength, there are 3 ways infrared saunas help.
Before you invest, learn the science behind sauna benefits.
First, De-stress
Have you ever noticed that when you’re tired or feeling run down you’re more susceptible to catching a cold or flu? You’re not alone. It makes sense that if your body is working overtime due to added stress, it will also tax your immune system.
In fact, chronic stress can lead to serious diseases, including cancer. Additionally, we reduce our ability to fight illness when we have high blood pressure or too much cortisol in our system. Cortisol is the hormone that’s released as part of our flight or fight response to stressors.
However, an infrared sauna session of just 20 minutes can minimize tension and stress. Even the well-respected Mayo Clinic endorses infrared sauna therapy for relaxation. The heat doesn’t just naturally relax your muscles, it induces a positive biological or cellular response. Part of this starts with your digestive system which 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.
Once you’ve had a chance to lean back and relax, you’ll start to sweat, often intensely, due to high temperatures. That leads to additional benefits. Read on.
Then, Detox
It seems like detox diets and juicing cleansing regimens have been popular for years. But, are they essential? Our bodies naturally detox on their own. However, with so many additives and hormones in foods and contaminants in our environment, our bodies can get overloaded.
While your kidneys do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to detoxing your system, another organ helps. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, second to the liver, and dispels contaminants as you sweat. Infrared saunas are ideal for this process. The intense sweating from high temperatures helps eliminate harmful heavy metals and other pollutants, like PCBs and BPAs, from your system. It’s one key benefit that comes from spending time in infrared heat.
If you’re not already exercising enough to break a sweat, the sauna is a great alternative. One thing to always keep in mind is to stay properly hydrated before and after sauna use. Additionally, if you have any medical conditions, consult a medical advisor before launching into an infrared routine.
Getting into a regular routine will help you reap the most sauna benefits. Some of those benefits may not be noticeable at first but keep reading to learn more.
Finally, Cell Repair
Once you experience infrared’s relaxing, intense heat and ensuing deep sweat, it’s what happens below the surface where the magic really happens.
Some have linked the cellular changes induced by infrared to that of hormesis. Hormesis is described as limited or small doses of certain stressors that cause a cellular process that in turn slows aging, improves overall health, and builds resilience.
What’s also promising is that studies have been done linking far infrared treatment to a decrease in cancerous tumors. More are being conducted.
Additionally, medical research tells us that white blood cells, called leukocytes, are key to warding off anything attacking your body or immune system. Invasive cells are detected and tracked then caught in your lymph nodes, which is why having a healthy lymphatic system is also essential. Research done using a traditional sauna showed that the intense heat can lead to a rise in white blood cell count. This was attributed to a prolonged core temperature of 15 minutes or more, what you’d experience in an infrared sauna.
The common benefits to using either type of saunas has been noted in a recent medical citation which concluded by saying, “Manufacturers of far infrared (FIR) saunas are adding LED panels emitting red and/or Near Infrared (NIR) light to the interior of their sauna cabins. This combination of infrared light may provide additional physiological benefits.”
And that is exactly what Health Mate offers its full spectrum infrared saunas.
It’s Never Too Late
Sauna therapy is a practice that’s been providing health benefits for hundreds of years. At the core is improving your immune strength–3 ways infrared saunas can help with your immune system is just part of the overall benefits. Infrared sessions, just like exercise, vitamins, and a positive outlook, only work the more frequently you incorporate them. By having a strong immune system you’ll experience:
- Improved protection from illness
- Faster infection-fighting response
- Lowered stress and anxiety
- Quicker recovery from surgery or wounds
- Sounder sleep
Get the details on each of our infrared sauna models, and learn how you can enjoy the benefits an infrared sauna imparts in order to maintain good health, including a healthy immune system.