Exposure to Heat: Health Benefits of Sauna

There are lots of health benefits of sauna. By the fact that we sweat we deplete the bad toxins that pile day by day. I have sauna at home for seven years and I barely used it because, honestly, I thought that by exposing my body up to 100 degrees and sweat with no effort I couldn’t benefit. I even though it’s bad for your health since my heart pumps like crazy! Five months ago I passed next to it and I have decided to read the health benefits from it.

It has a lot! Even though it really is artificial sweat that’s not including any effort, only exposing to that high level of heat it takes patience to stay 2 rounds of 15 minutes. After the first round I usually reward myself with tepid shower to calm my temperature and to go for another round of 15 minutes on sand watch (I have to compliment my sauna).

Carrying on with the benefits I will start with the first one, the stress relief.

1. Sauna stress relief

Stress is the number one “serial killer” these days. It’s the biggest cause for most diseases. Even if the sickness is still inactive, this killer boosts the self-determination of it, and together they combine and form body dysfunctional abilities. As we stiff stress in our body from everyday living, the sauna helps us release it. By going inside the sauna, exposing to that heat, the body’s muscles relax, the circulation in our body improves, and the best like “the cherry of the pie” it releases endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s all-natural “feel good” chemicals that deliver a truly enjoyable feeling for the rest of the day.

2. Saunas relax muscles cool down aches/pain in both muscles and joints

As I mentioned not-so-long ago, the endorphins can make a mild, enjoyable “tranquilizing effect” and the capacity to lesser the pain of arthritis (painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints) and muscle soreness from, let’s say, an intense physical workout. As body temperature rises from the sauna causes blood vessels to extend, resulting in increased blood circulation. The blood flow boost the body’s natural healing process via cooling down aches,  pains and accelerates the healing of cuts and bruises. Its desirable to use the sauna after physical sport because it relaxes the muscles by helping to reduce muscle tension and eliminate lactic acid or other toxins that might be present.

3. Saunas exhaust toxins

It’s a fact that sweat carries all the toxins outside of the body. By the process of sweating we exhaust lead, zinc, copper, nickel, mercury and all the chemical squirmed into our body by the interaction with our daily environments. Many doctors agree on one thing for saunas, and that’s because it’s one of the best ways to exhaust toxins from our bodies.

4. Sauna sanitize the skin

Heat bathing is one of the oldest beauty and health strategies in terms of sanitizing the skin. When we sweat, the skin is sanitized and dead skin cells are replaced. Sweating also rises bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts. Sanitizing of the pores improve the capillary circulation, giving the skin a softer-looking quality. Not long ago, on one show I heard that Victoria Secret had one of the many requirements when they travel and it was that in the hotel they will be accommodated sauna is a must. We are one step away from exposing their secret!

5. Saunas improve cardiovascular performance

During the exposure of heat, skin heats up and body temperature rises. In response to the increased heat levels, the blood vessels near the skin expand and “cardiac output” rises. Medical research concluded that the heart rate can rise from 60-70 beats per minute to 110-120 beats per minute (even 140-150 bpm with more intensive bathing) and can often sink to below normal after cooling down. With sauna usage, we train our heart muscles and improve the heart rate output and we also help the body’s regulatory system.

6. Saunas burn calories

Because the sweating processes itself crave a notable amount of energy. That energy is derived from the modification of fat and carbohydrates in a body process that burns calories. According to U.S. Army medical research (Ward Dean, M.D.) “A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a saunas single session, consuming nearly 300 calories in the process. As the heart pumps blood rapidly and the process demands more oxygen, the body begins to convert more calories into usable energy. Lie down and lose weight, very well-heeled!

7. The deep sleep after saunas.

Research has shown that after session of sauna we can flow into deeper and more relaxed sleep. Numerous sauna bathers (including me) recall the deep sleep benefit I like to call “nirvana” after one session of sauna.

Concluding all the benefits of sauna we can conceive that sauna makes us sweat. By sweating the body makes outstanding performance that brings lot of benefits. After one good session of sauna the body just feels good by throwing out all the toxins through the sweating glands. “Everybody lives happily ever after”. That’s what I feel after sauna.

Sources: http://www.finnleo.com/pages/health-and-wellness.aspx

“After sauna everybody lives happily ever after”