Using heat for relaxation and improving overall health has been going on for centuries, even if it took different forms. Romania had ancient communal baths that will resemble spas today. Turkish baths depended on steam and heat to open skin pores for the scrubs and masks to efficiently improve your skin. You can find many examples in different cultures that depended on using heat just like saunas to improve skin texture, treat skin problems, help people relax, improve heart health, and flush out the toxins. To better understand how a sauna can improve wellness, we have collected some of the top benefits that saunas offer.
Saunas Are Perfect After Hitting The Gym
Do you know why almost every gym now has a sauna and a steam room? It’s because they relax the body muscles after intense workout sessions. Relaxing muscles and soothing aches and pains help greatly in speeding up the recovery process. Saunas provide high temperatures, which the body responds by releasing endorphins. They are like a natural tranquilizer which is slightly enjoyable to distract the mind from feeling pains and aches. That’s why saunas are also great for people who suffer from any chronic pain such as joint pains, fibromyalgia, and constant headaches. The high heat also causes our body temperature to rise, which causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood circulation. Better circulation means a faster recovery and healing process. Some studies even proved that one of the main sauna benefits is increasing endurance. This has been linked directly with sauna’s ability to increase plasma and red blood cells, which in turn increases endurance by a percentage that can reach up to 32%.
Your Hair And Skin Will Thank You
People who are interested in taking care of their skin and hair by following hair and skin routines realize the importance of the sauna and how it could help them down the line. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book to instantly get shiny hair and glowing skin. The high level of heat opens your pores for your body to sweat out the toxins; you won’t even recognize your skin if you followed this with a scrub, a good moisturizing mask, and ended the session with a cold shower before applying moisturizing oils that work as good sealants such as jojoba or grapeseed oils. Deep sweats and high heats help the skin shed its old dead cells and remove bacteria out of the epidermal layer. Your hair, on the other hand, will instantly get better once you step into the sauna room due to its ability to activate the sebaceous gland. This gland is responsible for moisturizing, waxing, or lubricating the hair; it generates sebum that waterproof the hair.
It’s Your Ticket For A Better Body
While you shouldn’t depend only on sauna sessions for losing weight or sculpting your body, you can definitely use the sauna to quicken your weight loss journey. Not only can a single sauna session help you burn 300 calories while you are lying down and relaxing, but saunas can also prevent cellulite from forming. It can also improve the state of existing cellulite for the better. When you subject your body to high temperatures, the heart activity increases, which means there will be a very high demand for oxygen. This causes the body to break down fats and carbs and convert them to energy it can use to keep up with the high heart rate and fast natural processes.
It Improves Cardiovascular Performance
It comes as no surprise that saunas can improve our heart function. Due to its stress relief benefits, saunas can increase longevity. The majority of diseases are either linked directly or indirectly to stress. For example, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is triggered by stress and anxiety; it causes strong cramps in the colon that results in the whole stomach feeling more bloated. This affects internal organs, your heart function, and your overall quality of life. The quiet, warmth, and darkness provide a brief moment of relief from the outside world. That’s why saunas are known to reduce the risk of heart attacks and hypertension and helps in improving arterial compliance.
Saunas Boost Our Immune System And Help Fight Diseases
Research has found that saunas can reduce the risk of colds and influenza in participants significantly. High temperatures force our body to start producing more white cells. These cells in the immune system help the body fight infectious diseases and attacking invaders. Sauna also allows the body to flush out toxins and get rid of bacteria which works great in fighting illnesses. If you are already down with a cold, saunas can work like magic in relieving some of the annoying symptoms such as sinus congestion. Another study has proved how a sauna can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The study concluded that depending on the results of 2,300 participants that regularly uses that reach from 4 to 7 times per week for 19 minutes per time, has lowered the risk and slowed down the advancements for Alzheimer’s disease.
You Will Sleep Like A Baby
People who struggle with insomnia, tossing and turning, or not being able to sleep throughout the night can get better with frequent uses of the sauna. Research showed that the high heat you subject your body to reduce stress, releases endorphins, and increases body temperature. After a few hours, the level of endorphins and body temperature starts to fall. This leads to a better, deeper, and more relaxed sleep. This is similar to taking a hot shower or a bath, just to notice that your body is more relaxed and ready for bed.
Many may not be entirely aware of how saunas benefit their whole body, but they still agree that saunas make you feel better. Whether it’s the high heat or being in a small dark, warm room, saunas can instantly make you feel better and give you a little break from our daily life struggles. And it’s important to know that it’s not even merely relaxing, the sauna is a great tool to help you lead a healthier and better life so that your body can function better overall.
