A wet or dry sauna bath takes place in a small room, house or establishment containing supportive facilities. One perspires from the steam and the high heat. How effective are sauna baths for the general well-being of the body? Well, sauna is a healthy experience as the sauna bathers would attest. In this article, we explore the various health benefits of sauna bathing.
Health Benefit 1: Stress Relief
Sauna baths fights stress since they take place in ambient place where there are no external disturbances. The heat from the sauna aids in relaxing the body muscles, promotes healthy blood circulation, not to mention the release of ‘good feel’ hormones otherwise known as endormophins. These hormones give you a good feeling after a sauna birth and uplift your mood.
Health benefit 2: Promotes Circulation and Muscle Health
The high temperatures in the sauna help the blood vessels to dilate hence boosting circulation. This in turn promotes the natural healing of the body by soothing pains, aches as well as recovery from cuts and bruises. The muscles also relax, getting rid of tension and accumulated lactic acid or any toxins in the body. A sauna bath also helps in preventing arthritic conditions from occurring.
Health Benefit 3: Saunas and Detoxification
By inducing sweating, sauna not only assists in cooling of the body, but helps rid of the various toxic substances present in the sweat such as zinc, copper, mercury and nickel. The heat from the sauna also boosts blood circulation.
Health Benefit 4: Skin Cleanser
Sauna baths unblock the skin pores when sweating takes place. The bacteria, epidermal as well as sweat ducts are cleaned out helping the skin to breath appear well toned and improve capillary circulation. Sweat bathes the skin with nutrients which assist in keeping a proper structure of the collagen.
Health Benefit 5: Deep Sleep.
It has been demonstrated through research that sauna helps you go into a deep slumber. This works out when your body temperature goes up before plummeting, inducing a deep, relaxed slumber. Additionally, sauna helps the body to release endormophins to catalyze the sleep process.
Health Benefit 6: Sauna’s Recreational Benefit
For people who hanker for that feeling of sociability, then sauna is one area where you can interact with other family members. The notion that a sauna is a private place for personal enjoyment does not hold. There are in fact a number of things you can do at the sauna such as holding a lively chat with a family member as well as make new friends. It is also an ideal place for private and quiet conversation
Health Benefit 7: Cardiovascular Health
The heat generated from a sauna causes the blood vessels near the skin surface to dilate, leading to increased cardiac output. The heart beat may go up to 120 beats per minute, from the conventional 60-70 beats per minute. Regular usage of sauna may aid heart muscles to work more efficiently as well as boost the body’s regulatory mechanism. What people do not realize is that the increased heart beat is equivalent to a moderate exercise whereby heart’s output increases y up to 60%.
Health Benefit 8: Weight Loss
Saunas are ideal places to burn calories during sweating process. Burning of energy takes place when fats and carbohydrates are broken down to release the energy. On average, you will sweat 500grams and lose almost 300 calories.
Health Benefit 9. Combats illnesses
It has been observed medically that sauna baths ward off diseases such as colds and influenza. This is because the heat from sauna causes the body to release white blood cells faster. The white blood cells combat viruses.
Saunas also assist in getting relief from sinus symptoms especially when eucalyptus is added to water. In addition, saunas can relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of sinus and congestion brought about by colds or allergies.
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