Seven Surprising Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Seven Surprising Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Posted by Eileen Durfee on 26th Oct 2021

Man Experiences Chest PainAccording to research, cardiovascular disease affects over 48% of the American adult population. This includes high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. While some types of heart disease are hereditary, other types can be avoided by living a healthy lifestyle.

However, the problem is that not many people know what living a healthy lifestyle means. For some, it means more exercise, yet for others, they need to focus from the inside-out, which means saunas, nutrition, and detoxification.

Thankfully, there are many health benefits of infrared saunas, from lowering the risks of heart disease to reducing muscle pain and detoxification.

The only issue is, how can you reap the benefits of sitting in a sauna when most of them are closed due to COVID-19? Thankfully, we've got those answers for you.

Keep on reading to learn more about the health benefits of infrared saunas and how you can get your own at-home infrared sauna delivered right to your door.

Let's get started.

What Is an Infrared Sauna?

Gone are the days when sitting in a sauna meant having to constantly pour water over hot rocks to feel the warmth around you. While those types of saunas still exist in recreation centers and spas, they only heat the air around you and do not work with your body directly.

An infrared sauna uses infrared lamps, also known as electromagnetic radiation, that directly warms your body instead of just the air around you. It does this by using infrared panels specifically designed to heat the tissues in your body instead of the room. Approximately 80% of the heat goes straight to your body, with only 20% into the surroundings.

While you may be thinking that it sounds too hot, it is actually the opposite. This isn't just any heat; it's a specific infrared heat that penetrates much deeper than conventional saunas. This allows for a more comfortable experience of having a successful detox without the added temperature.

Because of this uniquely designed red light frequency, also known as photobiomodulation, you can stay in the sauna for a much longer time without feeling unbearable heat. This allows you to reap even more benefits. However, be sure to start slow and avoid too much heat exposure too fast. Listen to your body to know when enough is enough.

What Is Photobiomodulation?

Photobiomodulation is the fancy scientific term for a type of light therapy. Essentially, it activates photochemical changes by using non-ionizing electromagnetic energy.

Thanks to the evolving science of quantum physics, they have discovered that light frequencies can affect the molecules within and out of our bodies. This is known as "exciting" the molecule. After this process, the molecule goes through a process to release this extra energy to return to its normal state in the form of light.

The Difference Between Far and Near Infrared Saunas

There is a lot of research being done on the differences between near and far infrared sauna therapy. While they are quite different, they are both needed to provide ultimate benefits for your overall health.

Near-Infrared Saunas

Near-infrared saunas use high-frequency red light to excite specific enzymatic activity within your cells. This specific area is called your mitochondria, which is also known as your cellular powerhouse. This activates many healing benefits such as reduced inflammation, lowered oxidative stress, and improved cellular energy production (ATP).

Far Infrared Saunas

Far infrared saunas use infrared light to excite (heat) the water molecules within your cells. This process also improves mitochondria function and provides many different benefits than the near-infrared sauna. This includes improved detoxifying, weight loss, and improved circulation.

Woman in Infrared Sauna

With the saunas provided by Creatrix Solutions, you don't have to choose between near and far infrared saunas. You can receive the benefits of both designs in the same sauna. In one session, you can boost the efficiency of your health and fitness results with red light, far infrared, near-infrared, and mid-infrared.

Infrared Saunas Boost Heart Health

According to research, there are numerous heart health benefits of using an infrared sauna. Infrared sauna therapy improves blood circulation by heating your body temperature from the inside out. During this process, blood flow increases while the blood vessels dilate.

This improved circulation helps your body transport nutrients much more efficiently, remove more waste, expel toxins, and improve oxygen flow. Over time, this improves the total efficiency of all of your vital organs, as they become able to receive the nutrients needed to function optimally. This helps to reduce the chances of congestive heart failure and improves cardiovascular fitness without even working out.

One study done by Harvard University discovered that there was over a 40% reduction in risks of heart attack and death with sauna use. They concluded that frequent sauna visits equate to a longer, healthier life.

2. Improves Detoxification

According to a study done by the Chemical Abstracts Service, in the last 40 years, our bodies are exposed to over 100 million potential new contaminants. These come from pesticides, off-gasses in household materials, processed foods, mercury, and more.

Thankfully, detoxification is one of the many health benefits of infrared saunas. Sweating is our body's way of naturally expelling toxins, so improving our sweat process will help us to speed up the rate of removing unwanted toxins.

Some studies have found that regular sauna detox will help the body remove mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. This also includes the removal of BPA, pesticides, and other heavy metals.

So instead of needing to restrict your diet and suffer through a detox, you can get the same benefits of sitting in a sauna.

3. Infrared Saunas Boost Mental Health

When you work out, your body produces "feel-good" endorphins, called serotonin and dopamine. These endorphins help improve overall mental health, reduce pain in the body, and promote a sense of "euphoria." This is also known as the "runner's high." Some scientists have discovered that endorphins provide similar benefits to opioid use but without harmful side effects.

During this endorphin boost, your brain also releases more brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF stimulates neurogenesis, which is the growth of new brain cells. The more BDNF your brain can release, the healthier your overall brain function will be, reducing the chances of psychiatric diseases and other mental disorders.

Infrared saunas also stimulate the release of endorphins and BDNF in the brain. One study discovered that over six weeks of sauna therapy reduces depression scores compared to the placebo treatment.

This doesn't mean that you should avoid fitness altogether, but it does mean that sauna therapy is a great addition to any healthy routine.

4. Improved Athletic Performance

The health benefits of infrared saunas can also help to improve your physical performance. This is done by helping with muscle recovery and helping to build more muscle mass.

Infrared saunas help speed up the process of autophagy, which is the cleanup of your cell's waste. This waste removal helps your muscles perform optimally and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) symptoms.

Saunas also help speed up antioxidant enzymatic activity, which helps delay aging and improve muscular function.

One study found that sauna therapy heats shock proteins, which helps to increase muscle mass without even needing to weight train. This also helps to improve endurance levels,

5. Improved Skin Health

Perhaps one of the best-infrared sauna benefits is that it helps to promote healthy, youthful-appearing skin. As we age, our skin starts producing over 1% less collagen every year after the age of 30. This is what causes wrinkles, fine lines, and the loss of skin volume (drooping).

Studies show that specific saunas that combine different light therapies help stimulate collagen growth in the body. Over time, this helps to reduce the signs of aging by removing wrinkles, fine lines, and adding volume to the skin.

Sweating also helps remove dead skin cells and impurities, leaving you with a healthy-looking glow after your sauna session.

Couple Gets Restful Sleep

6. Improves Sleep

The circadian rhythm is our natural sleep cycle, which repeats every 24 hours like clockwork. To improve your circadian rhythm, your body needs to drop in temperature to signal that it is time to sleep.

This is why having a hot bath or shower before sleep can help your body begin to wind down. Having an at-home infrared sauna can help heat your body much more than a hot bath. Afterward, this creates a much stronger signal to your body that it is time to unwind and get ready for rest.

7. Saunas Improve Weight Loss

One of the most popular health benefits of infrared saunas is their ability to help speed up weight loss. Regular use of an at-home infrared sauna can help improve your cardiovascular system the same way that cardiovascular exercise does.

This speeds up the calorie-burning process, helping you to lose weight much faster than exercise alone. This can also help to reduce inflammation, which lowers your chances of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions.

Further enhance weight loss efforts by combining your sauna session with your exercise time. Studies show that exercising under the beneficial light rays is more impactful than doing either one of these two activities independently.

Make sure you are drinking a lot of water during sauna therapy sessions, as it will help you speed up the fat loss and keep your body hydrated. We recommend incorporating Healthy Salt into your daily regimen for optimal hydration benefits.

Learn More About the Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Now that you know the major health benefits of infrared saunas, you probably wonder how you can add sauna therapy into your health routine.

Thankfully, we have amongst the highest-rated infrared saunas on the market. We even offer specifically designed saunas for hot yoga sessions. Check out our hot yoga bundle to learn more!