New research suggests that infrared sauna sessions could help with weight loss. Here’s what you need to know.
It seems almost too good to be true — that relaxing in an infrared sauna could help you lose weight. Yet, the latest research indicates that it might do just that. So, how does it work?
Infrared saunas use Far infrared Nano-Carbon heaters to penetrate the body’s tissues and produce sweating. Infrared saunas are different than traditional saunas. For starters, infrared saunas do not get as hot as regular saunas, which can reach temperatures of more than 90° C. Because infrared saunas heat the body, they produce a deep sweat — just like a regular sauna.
So, How Do Infrared Saunas Help With Weight Loss?
An infrared sauna session causes your core temperature to rise, which in turn increases your heart rate. This action speeds up your metabolic rate, and burns calories according to experts, who estimate that a half-hour session in the sauna burns as many as 600 calories.1
There is plenty of research to back up the claims made by experts. Researchers at Binghamton University studied the effects of infrared sauna use on body fat. Study participants who spent a 45-minute session in an infrared sauna three times a week lost four percent body fat in just 16 weeks. The scientists believe that increasing the body’s core temperature increases human growth hormone production, which increases serum glucose levels. This action helps spur fat loss.2
Another study found that a session in the sauna is just as beneficial on your heart as exercise. For this study, published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, German researchers measured the immediate effects of sauna use on the cardiovascular system. They measured participants heart rate and blood pressure during and immediately following infrared sauna use. Researchers compared the results with participants blood pressure and heart rate measures following exercise on a cycle ergometer. Using blood pressure and heart rate data, the researchers found that 25 minutes in the sauna was comparable to a moderate session on the exercise bike.3
Also, your heart rate and blood pressure both come down slowly after a session in the sauna, which helps your resting heart rate become lower. A lower resting heart rate is associated with better cardiovascular health.4
The fat-burning potential of regular infrared sauna sessions makes purchasing an infrared sauna well worth it. Incorporating infrared sauna sessions into your wellness regimen can help you in other ways too. Spending time in an infrared sauna is both stimulating and relaxing. It leaves you feeling relaxed and refreshed. Infrared sessions offer natural stress relief.
Infrared sessions may even help fight depression. A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that infrared heat mimics the effects of antidepressants by stimulating the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.5
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