Four Infrared Sauna Benefits

Infrared saunas are among the best tools to detox your body, reduce pain, lose weight, and more. But, what is an infrared sauna, and what are all of the benefits that you can enjoy from this modality? Well, today we’re here to answer these questions and tell you Elizabeth’s favorite infrared sauna benefits.

Traditional Saunas Versus Infrared Saunas

You\’ve probably been in a traditional (Finnish) sauna before in which high heat or steam heats your body temperature to induce sweating. Infrared saunas also induce sweating but with a different mechanism. Infrared saunas raise your body temperature from the inside while the air in the sauna itself remains the same. In fact, the Finnish sauna organizations don’t even consider infrared saunas as actual saunas. However, the device/room in which infrared therapy is administered is commonly referred to as a sauna….so, we’ll continue with common parlance. 😉

Infrared heat has the ability to penetrate the body more deeply than surrounding the body with heated air or steam. This deep heat within the body induces more vigorous sweating at a lower temperature. This type of sweating is the type that delivers a myriad of benefits to your body.

Elizabeth’s Top Four Infrared Sauna Benefits (with studies that back them up)

While there are many benefits associated with infrared sauna use, the following are Elizabeth Tringali’s favorites.

1. DETOX

There is actually a lot of debate in the medical world about sweat these days. Some doctors claim that sweating is only a temperature regulator in the body and that it does not “detox” the body like our internal detoxification organs (like the liver, for instance). However, much research speaks otherwise.

Studies have found that increased sweating can help your body excrete toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. And, “mercury levels normalized with repeated saunas” (1). Infrared saunas are also a great way to detox toxic mold from your body.

Another study found BPA, a chemical found in plastics that disrupts your endocrine system, present in sweat and states that “induced sweating appears to be a potential method for elimination of BPA (2). And,

2. PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS / BURNS CALORIES

One of the most sought after infrared sauna benefits is the calorie and fat burning effects. The internal heating of your body during an infrared sauna session is similar to the increase of body temperature during a workout. Thus, it is possible to burn between 400-600 calories in one session. One study even found a 4% drop in body fat over the use of four months. Many people use it as a supplement to their weight loss programs and workout regimens to give them an extra boost.

The calorie burning effect of infrared saunas is one of the most sought after benefits. Infrared saunas are able to increase your body’s core temperature in a manner similar to working out. You can burn between 400 to 600 calories in a 30-minute session, which has led to the use of infrared saunas in weight loss programs.

3. SUPPORTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

The heat generated by an infrared sauna can stimulate energy at a cellular level which can then increases the body’s production of white blood cells. This is, essentially, what happens when we have a fever (the body’s natural mechanism to strengthen and accelerate the immune response, as seen in the case of infection). White blood cells are critical when it comes to the functionality of the immune system. Therefore, an increase in production of these cells can stimulate the immune system to better fight off infections and viruses. Even Finnish saunas can have the same effect on the immune system (3).

4. REDUCES PAIN

Pain reduction is an incredible infrared sauna benefit. Numerous studies have found that infrared light can help with pain by reducing inflammation.

Patients with fibromyalgia, lower back pain, arthritis and more have been shown to find significant relief with the use of infrared saunas. One study found patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed a reduction in pain, stiffness, and fatigue during infrared sauna therapy (4).

Where to Find an Infrared Sauna

Tringali Vibrant Health is one of the only Functional Medicine offices in South Florida to provide the HOCATT Ozone Sauna system.

Call: 561-283-1166 to book your appointment.

PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA: If you’re looking for an at-home option, the Therasage Thera360 Portable Sauna featuring TheraFusionTM InfraRed Technology has completely revolutionized the at-home infrared sauna. Featuring Therasage’s proprietary Natural Earth Element Full Spectrum Infrared heating panels, with Tourmaline gem stones, to generate an abundance of negative ions,  and bathe your body from every angle in gentle full spectrum Infrared frequencies and negative ions/Therasage 360’s revolutionary Advanced Earthing Technology (AET) further enhances the healing experience by capturing the charge of the Earth to help balance the delicate polarity of the body and improve cellular communication. With a unique method to shield harmful EMF’s, the Therasage Thera360 Portable Sauna allows the body to absorb maximum healing benefits.

One caveat: this product is an investment. It is cheaper than most at-home infrared saunas because it is portable and can be used almost anywhere, but it is indeed expensive. This is Elizabeth Tringali’s favorite at-home options and  you can buy it through the Tringali Vibrant Health Store at a discounted price.