In my opinion, one of the best ways to lose weight is by taking a sauna bath. Not only does it burn calories, it also helps to tone your muscles and clear your skin. If you want to try this at home — and who doesn’t? — here’s how you can use saunas to shed those extra few pounds.
Sauna Benefits
Let’s take a quick look at the many health benefits of using a sauna. Saunas have been shown to help prevent several diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
In one study, subjects with Alzheimer’s — living in a retirement home — were given a 10-minute sauna session every day for two months. At the end of the study, the participants experienced a significant decrease in cognitive impairment, as well as an improved quality of life. This is definitely one of the most interesting studies I’ve ever read, and it certainly proves that regular sauna use can help prevent some diseases. The other studies are fairly similar in that they’ve proven that regular sauna use can help to prevent various types of cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease.
How Does Sauna Work?
The science behind how saunas work is actually quite interesting. First, you’ll need to understand a little bit about the body’s thermoregulation system.
The role of the sweat glands is to regulate our body temperature. The faster we heat up, the more efficiently our body can shed excess heat. This is why we perspire during hot days. However, the body can only shed heat to a certain extent; beyond that point, heat will begin to accumulate, potentially causing us serious injury or even death. This is why it’s essential to maintain a healthy body temperature through regular physical activity and exposure to cooler environments, like the air. This is also why the body temperature of an infant or child is considered to be a life-threatening issue. When babies get overheated, it leads to a condition called thermal shock, which is a medical emergency because it can cause the baby to lose consciousness.
So, as we mentioned above, the purpose of the sweat glands is to regulate our body temperature. This is why it is important to keep them clean. When they are blocked or clogged with dirt or residue, this will greatly affect their ability to function properly. Using a sauna cleanly and regularly will help maintain healthy sweat glands and allow the body to benefit from all the wonderful effects of this amazing piece of equipment.
The Importance Of Keeping Up With Cleaning
As we mentioned above, using a sauna regularly will help keep your sweat glands clean. However, it is also important to keep the sauna clean itself. This means washing it often and ensuring it is always dry before using it again. Even after use, it is still important to cleanse it thoroughly before storing it for later use. This is especially important if you store it for long periods of time because water will begin to accumulate, potentially leading to serious damage if not removed.
Fortunately, this is very easy to do. Simply run hot water over the entire sauna, drying and cleaning it thoroughly. Afterward, you can wipe down the entire unit with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture. This process should be repeated at least once every three months to ensure optimum performance.
Signs Of Trouble
Now, let’s discuss some of the potential issues you might encounter while using a sauna. First, if you have poor circulation, you might experience some discomfort while using it. You should be mindful about this because if it’s too hot, it could potentially lead to a serious health issue. In most cases, the discomfort will be mild, more of an annoyance than anything else. However, if you experience this frequently, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs medical attention.
Another issue you might encounter is burns or rashes due to overexposure to heat. This is why it is important to always maintain proper distance between yourself and the heater while under the hood. You can also use a heat sensor to monitor your exposure and ensure you do not overexpose yourself. In the event of any burns or rashes, you should immediately discontinue use and consult with a medical professional.
A related issue is excessive water drinking. It is important to stay hydrated, so you should always drink at least 16 ounces for every hour that you spend in the sauna. This is particularly important if you start to feel thirsty while under the hood. Remember, the hotter the sauna, the more you will be able to sweat, and the more you will be able to rehydrate yourself. However, if you drink beyond this point, it will merely serve to make you more dehydrated, which could potentially lead to health problems.
Some individuals will also develop a rash from using a sauna. This can be quite unsettling because it is an indication that something is wrong. In most cases, this will be as a result of a sensitivity toward wheat, dairy, or other food products. In cases where this persists, you should discontinue use and consult with a medical professional. Although they can be quite irritating, these rashes will generally not cause any serious health issues.
What if I told you there was a way to safely lose weight without having to go on a diet or take a drug? What if I also told you that this method involves spending just a few minutes a day in a warm, dry sauna? Can you imagine how amazing this would be? How about if I told you that the key is to lose weight in a healthy, non-obese way? This is why you should seriously consider trying out a sauna.
It’s been established that regular sauna use can help prevent serious health issues. Furthermore, several studies have proven that it can also be an effective tool in losing weight, especially for women. Saunas have been known to rapidly boost the metabolism and help with satiety, which makes them ideal for losing weight. Let’s take a quick look at how a sauna could help to shed those unwanted pounds.
Sauna For Weight Loss
As we mentioned above, using a sauna is a great way to lose weight. In fact, a 2017 study conducted at the University of Turku in Finland found that overweight and obese subjects who used a sauna before their exercise session enjoyed a boost of energy that made them more active. The subjects who used a sauna lost an average of 2.62 kg (5.51 lbs) in just 8 weeks, compared to 1.76 kg (3.69 lbs) in the control group. Additionally, the subjects who used a sauna reported greater reductions in systolic (pulse) and diastolic (pulse) blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The researchers concluded that regular sauna use could be an easy and inexpensive alternative to traditional weight loss methods.
How To Use Sauna At Home
If you’re looking to try out a sauna at home, there are several different options, but I would recommend the electric kind. They are much more convenient to use, and you will not have any issues with overheating as you would with a traditional charcoal-burning model. They also utilize less energy, so you’ll have more control over how hot the room is. As a result, you will be able to feel the benefits of a sauna more readily.
To use your sauna at home, the first thing you should do is turn it on. This can be a little tricky in some situations. For example, if there is no switch on the unit itself, then you will have to find one inside the electrical box. In most cases, there will be a physical switch located on the handle or on the wall next to it. Before taking a bath, you should make sure that the heat is set at a comfortable level and that the fan is spinning to ensure air flow all around the body.
After you’re done taking a bath, you should leave the sauna and either walk around or drive for a while to let the heat dissipate. When you get back home, it’s important to open the windows and let some of the cool air in. This is also a good time to switch off the fan and turn off the heat, although you should continue to check for signs of overheating. If this is the case, then either remove a layer or return later once the room has cooled down.