Channel: Natural Ways

Category: Howto & Style

Tags: benefits of saunasaunasbody detoxskin detoxbenefits of steamsaunasauna benefits

Description: Current research about the benefits of saunas is mixed. If you’re considering adding the sauna to your health and wellness routine, make sure to evaluate your specific health needs first. • Relaxation Saunas have been traditionally used to produce a feeling of relaxation. As your heart rate goes up and your blood vessels dilate, there is an increase in blood flow to the skin. Saunas may also improve blood-circulation. Your sympathetic nervous-system becomes more active in order to maintain a temperature balance in your body. Your endocrine glands begin to get involved in this response. Your body’s reaction to the heat can make you less perceptive to pain, more alert, and give you a feeling of elation. The heat relaxes your muscles, including those in your face and neck. These muscles are often tense after long day. This relaxation effect is one of the biggest benefits to using a sauna. • Pain relief Using a dry sauna can leave people feeling invigorated. Since the blood vessels relax and dilate in a sauna, blood flow increases and the experience can help reduce tension in the joints and relieve sore-muscles. Saunas might also help those with chronic pain and arthritis. A study in people with chronic musculoskeletal diseases including rheumatoid-arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis discovered that sauna sessions improved pain, stiffness, and fatigue over the course of four weeks. Risks of using saunas • Dehydration The average person loses about a pint of sweat in just a short period of time in the sauna, so be sure to drink plenty of water before and after using one. Don’t spend long periods of time in the sauna, as prolonged periods increase your risk of dehydration. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency. You should leave the sauna immediately if you feel dizzy/lightheaded, have a headache, or get very thirsty. After your sauna session, drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body. • Weight loss Saunas aren’t effective for weight loss because the only weight lost is fluid weight, and your body will replenish the lost fluid as soon as you eat or drink. As soon as you drink water, you’ll gain the weight right back. If you’re looking to lose-weight, stick with a healthy eating and exercise plan. • Fertility Research has found an association between sauna use and loss of fertility in men. A recent study in Finnish men who underwent two 15-minute sauna sessions per week for three months found that the use of saunas had a significant negative effect on their production of sperm. • Toxins There is no evidence to suggest that sweating during a sauna session releases toxins from the body or skin. The sole purpose of sweating is to prevent overheating of your body. It’s your liver and kidneys that do the detoxifying. While many people use saunas as part of a healthy lifestyle, what’s best for you may not be what’s best for someone else. When used in combination with a healthy diet, exercise routine, and plenty of water, saunas may help you: