What Are the Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing?

Physically, nothing is more reinvigorating than a deep, healthy sweat every day by sauna bathing. Tension fades. Muscles unwind. Mentally, we emerge relaxed, revived and ready for whatever the day may bring.

A few minutes a day is all it takes to look and feel better.

The body’s response to gentle, persistent heat is well-documented and proven by people all over the world. More doctors are recommending the purifying benefits.

Saunas Improve Cardiovascular Performance

Sauna bathers frequently cite stress reduction as the number one benefit of sauna use.

Medical studies often determine that stress in our daily lives can negatively impact our health.

In fact, the vast majority of disease is at least partially stress-related.

Heat bathing in a sauna provides stress relief in a number of ways:

• It’s a warm, quiet space without any distractions. Step into a FinnLeo sauna and close the door on the rest of the world.
• The heat from the sauna relaxes the body’s muscles, improves circulation and stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s all-natural “feel good” chemical. Their release provides a truly wonderful “after sauna glow”.
• Reduced risk of all-cause mortality and fatal cardiac incidents. Using a sauna two to three times per week at 174 degrees F reduces risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Disease by 27% and four to seven times per week by 50%.
• Reduced risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) with regular sauna use.
• Long-term sauna use and aerobic exercise are associated with improved arterial compliance, that means the arteries are healthier and better able to handle additional stresses.
• Sauna use increases the heart rate similar to aerobic exercise with the heart rate ranging between 120-150 beats per minute.

Sauna Bathing is Recommended After Intense Physical Activity

Endorphins, released during sauna bathing, have a mild, enjoyable ‘tranquilizing effect” and the ability to minimize the pain of arthritis, muscle soreness and other results of an intense physical workout.

Body temperature rises from the heat of a sauna. This causes blood vessels to dilate, therefore increasing blood circulation. This increased blood flow speeds up the body’s natural healing process, therefore soothing aches and pains.

After participating in physical sports, use the heat and/or steam of a sauna to promote muscle relaxation by helping to reduce muscle tension and eliminate lactic acid and/or other toxins that may be present.

• Regular sauna use may also benefit strength training through improved recovery & muscle growth through the increased growth hormones.
• Growth hormone increases by 200-300% after a single sauna use, which helps with reducing muscle atrophy. This relates to University of Iowa study.
• Three-weeks of post-exercise sauna bathing increased run time to exhaustion by 32% in male distance runners.

Saunas Flush Toxins

Many of us do not actively sweat on a daily basis. Deep sweating has multiple proven health benefits.

Benefits derived from a deep sweat can be achieved via regular sauna bathing. Due to the heat of a sauna, the core body temperature begins to rise. The blood vessels then dilate, causing increased blood flow.

As heat from the blood begins to move toward the skin’s surface, the body’s nervous system then sends signals to the millions of sweat glands that cover the human body.

As the sweat glands become stimulated, they produce sweat. Sweat production is primarily designed to cool the body, and is composed of 99% water.

However, deep sweating in a sauna can help reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, mercury and chemical – which are all toxins commonly absorbed just from interacting with our daily environments.

There is no shortage of books from Doctors and practitioners, who describe the benefits of detoxifying our bodies regularly. As many doctors will agree, a big reason for the popularity of saunas is that they are one of the best ways to detoxify our bodies.

Sauna Bathing Reduces Incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease by 65%

A 20-year study conducted with more than 2,300 participants at the University of Eastern Finland by Dr. Jari Laukkanen and his colleagues revealed regular sauna use (4-7 times per week) at 176 degrees F for 19 minutes lowered the risk for both Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Sauna Bathing Relieves Stress

Sauna use can help the body and mind adapt to stress and reduce the risk of depression and other mental disorders. In addition to the adaption to stress, the improved cardiorespiratory fitness contributes to the therapeutic effects of sauna for depression and anxiety.

Sauna Bathing Can Induce a Deeper Sleep

Research has shown that a deeper, more relaxed sleep can result from sauna use. In addition to the release of endorphins, body temperatures, which become elevated in the late evening, fall at bedtime. This slow, relaxing decline in endorphins is key in facilitating sleep.

Numerous sauna bathers worldwide recall the deep sleep experiences that they feel after bathing the the calming heat of a sauna.

Sauna Use Can Help Fight Illness

German sauna medical research shows that saunas were able to significantly reduce the incidences of colds and influenza amongst participants. As the body is exposed to the heat of a sauna and steam (in the case of traditional saunas), it produces white blood cells more rapidly, which in turn helps to fight illnesses and helps to kill viruses. In addition, saunas can relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of sinus congestion from colds or allergies – especially when used with steam (tip: add eucalyptus to the water for added benefit and overall enjoyment). The steam vapor action helps to clear up unwanted congestion and is a wonderful aspect of the Finnish sauna experience.

Sauna Use Cleanses The Skin

Heat bathing is one of the oldest beauty and/or health strategies in terms of cleansing one’s skin. When the body begins to produce sweat via deep sweating, the skin is then cleansed and dead skin cells are replaced – keeping your skin in good working condition. Sweating rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts. Cleansing of the pores has been shown to improve Heat bathing is one of the oldest beauty and/or health strategies in terms of cleansing one’s skin. When the body begins to produce sweat via deep sweating, the skin is then cleansed and dead skin cells are replaced – keeping your skin in good working condition. Sweating rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts.

Sauna Use Burns Calories

Outlandish claims are often made by some sauna sellers (primarily those who sell infrared saunas) to promote saunas as an end-all weight loss tool.

While some individuals may experience high amounts of calorie burn at first – particularly those individuals in poor shape to begin with – over the long term, saunas are simply treated as one of many tools in our arsenal when it comes to burn additional calories.

The sweating process itself requires a notable amount of energy. That energy is derived from the conversion of fat and carbohydrates in a bodily process that burns up calories.

According to U.S. Army medical research (Ward Dean, M.D.), “A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna in a single session, consuming nearly 300 calories in the process. “The body consumes said calories due to the acceleration of heart activity (the cardiovascular section). As heart activity increases and as these processes demand more oxygen, the body begins to convert more calories into usable energy.

Saunas Have Recreational and Social Benefits

While the social benefit is rarely talked about, it’s actually quite important. The sauna can be a private, personal area of relaxation and solitude. However, it can just as easily be a relaxing environment for socializing with family, friends and soon-to-be friends. The sauna room environment is conducive to open, intimate and quiet conversation.

Sauna Bathing Feels Good

A sauna not only feels good, it’s good for your body. Whether it’s the physiological changes that occur during the warmth of a sauna, or if it’s simply the time spent in the calming and still retreat of the sauna, every seasoned sauna bather agrees – it feels wonderful! As we progress through our stressful everyday lives, the sauna provides a pampering retreat – where we can relax and restore body and soul. Sauna bathing truly makes you “Feel Better”, “Look Better” and “Sleep Better”!

Our team of experts will help you select the perfect FinnLeo sauna that will fit your lifestyle.

We are well known for our customer service.

Plan a visit to our showroom soon.

We are conveniently located at 226 Churchmans Road, New Castle, Delaware 19720

For more information, visit www.clearwaterspasinc.com or call us at (302) 325-8800.