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When I first bought a sauna for my house, I felt a little boujee, and didn’t want to broadcast that information to friends and family. However, after a few months of daily use, I’m a proud sauna advocate. I believe it’s one of the best investments you can make in your health. My skin looks better than it ever has, my energy levels are up, I’ve lost a few pounds, and a sauna session has proven to be better than ibuprofen for my PMS! Here’s a rundown on the benefits of infrared saunas:
Detoxification + Fat Loss
Infrared sauna heat penetrates deeper into our bodies than traditional convection heated saunas do. This raises your core body temperature and stimulates the lymphatic system, immune system, and cardiovascular system. Your lymphatic system is responsible for ridding the body of toxins and waste so while the word “detox” may sound woo-woo, it’s definitely not. Sitting in a sauna literally helps your body detox and rid itself of junk. A thirty minute sauna session also mobilizes fat cells and burns up to 600 calories!
Boost immune system
Infrared heat increases the body’s production of white blood cells, which are a critical component of our immune system. White blood cells are our first line of defense when something like a virus invades our body. Infrared saunas also improve circulation and allow the body to release impurities through sweat. This is your body’s natural way of eliminating toxins. Sitting in a sauna is also my favorite holistic cold remedy. Hippocrates famously said “Give me a fever and I can cure any disease.” Fevers are the body’s natural antibiotic!
Improve workout recovery
No one likes being sore! Sitting in a sauna can speed up the healing process your muscles go through after a tough workout. Infrared heat increases circulation, which reduces inflammation and helps your muscles get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Whether you’re recovering from an intense workout or an injury, saunas can speed up healing time and reduce pain.
Improve skin
Infrared saunas aid your skin in the detoxification process, and help clean out your pores. Infrared heat is clinically proven to reach deep levels of the skin while effectively removing toxins. A study done in 2006 found that both collagen and elastin increased after being exposed to infrared radiation.
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2687728/
How often should I use a sauna?
Aim for at least 3-4 thirty minute sessions a week, but even a 15 minute sauna session can be beneficial as long as you break a sweat. Infrared saunas are safe for daily use.
Reputable sauna brands
I did a lot of sauna research before purchasing. I narrowed it down to two companies who both build extremely low EMF saunas (important so you are not being exposed to high levels of radiation every time you sit in the sauna), use high quality parts, and include chromotherapy lighting with their saunas. The first brand is Clearlight, and this is the company I purchased from. It’s also the same sauna brand Gwyneth Paltrow, Zac Efron, and a lot of my favorite functional medicine doctors swear by. Clearlight saunas offer the option for cedarwood, which smells amazing and is naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Use code Stephanie Paige for a $500 discount. The other brand I trust and almost purchased from is Radiant Health Saunas (not to be confused with Radiant Saunas). This is a Canadian based company, but they ship to the United States. They also build very low EMF saunas, but they do not offer cedarwood as a wood option, which was the deciding factor for me when choosing my sauna.
Click HERE to shop Clearlight Saunas and be sure to mention code “Stephanie Paige” for a $500 discount!