Infrared saunas have gained popularity in recent years as a way to improve overall health and wellness.
While it may seem too good to be true, one of the benefits of infrared saunas is weight loss. And yes, before you start questioning its statement, we have evidence to support the claim that regular use of an infrared sauna can aid in weight loss.
However, before we dive into that, let us understand what is it that Infrared heat does to our bodies!
What is an Infrared Sauna? How Does it Work?
Traditional saunas make use of steam or hot rocks to heat the air around you, thereby restricting the heat penetration to a superficial level. On the other hand, infrared saunas use infrared light to heat your body directly. This results in more penetrating heat that can reach the deeper layers of tissue and increase your core body temperature.
When your body temperature increases, you sweat more, and when you sweat more, you lose the excess water weight as well as the harmful toxins that you have been carrying around. But, that’s not all! In order for your body to get rid of sweat, it needs to work harder. Moreover, with the overall rise in your core body temperature, your heart rate also increases, which can help boost your metabolism. This means that you tend to burn calories at a higher rate while enjoying an infrared sauna session than you would during other sedentary activities. Some estimates suggest that you can burn up to 600 calories during a single 45-minute session in an infrared sauna. This is significantly higher than traditional sauna therapy, which burns around 150 calories in a single session.
Does Infrared Sauna only Result in Loss of Water Weight?
While a vast majority of people tend to believe that infrared sauna weight loss is mostly due to the loss of water weight, the reality is a tad different. Infrared sauna therapy works on multiple levels, to ensure that your weight loss is not temporary, but rather long-lasting. Let us understand this with the help of the following facts –
Infrared sauna helps boost metabolism
As per Wikipedia, “Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are the conversion of the energy in food to the energy available to run cellular processes; the conversion of food to building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates; and the elimination of metabolic wastes.”
Unfortunately, the modern-day sedentary lifestyle and our increasingly poor eating habits combined with our disturbed sleep schedule have all given way to a slowed-down endocrine system. This means that the conversion of energy from the food we eat happens at a reduced pace, thereby leading to increased body weight. Since infrared saunas penetrate deep into the skin, they can reach the endocrine system directly and stimulate it. This helps increase the efficiency of the endocrine system and hence speeds up the metabolism to help you lose weight, which was earlier difficult to shed.
Infrared sauna helps reduce stress
Stress is known to be one of the most restricting factors, and can keep you from losing weight. An infrared sauna promises a relaxed mind and body, thereby ensuring that you enjoy a stress-free experience, at least for the duration of the session. This reduction in your overall stress levels also helps you lose some weight.
Infrared sauna helps increase heart rate
An infrared sauna is equivalent to a moderate-intensity cardio session. Since your heart rate increases during the session, and in fact stays elevated for up to 30 minutes post the session, it comes as no surprise that infrared saunas lead to weight loss.
Does all of this sound incredible? Well, don’t worry, we have enlisted for you a credible study so that you can check it all for yourself!
The Study Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
The study followed a group of adults who used an infrared sauna for 45 minutes per session, three times per week, over the course of four months. The participants were instructed to maintain their regular diet and exercise habits throughout the study.
The Result
At the end of the four months, the participants had an average of 4% decreased body fat and 3% body weight. This may not seem like a huge amount, but it’s important to remember that the participants did not make any significant changes to their diet or exercise habits. Simply sitting in an infrared sauna three times per week was enough to result in measurable weight loss.
Conclusion
The researchers believed that the increased core body temperature caused by the infrared sauna may stimulate the production of hormones that can help to regulate appetite and metabolism. Specifically, the hormone leptin, which is responsible for regulating hunger and satiety, may be affected by infrared sauna use. When leptin levels are high, you are less likely to feel hungry and more likely to feel satisfied after eating, which can help to reduce overall calorie intake.
Our Take
If you’re interested in trying an infrared sauna for weight loss, it’s important to remember that it’s not a magic solution. In order to see real results, you need to combine regular infrared sauna use with a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, evidence suggests that an infrared sauna can be a valuable tool in your weight loss journey. All said and done, you must remember, weight loss occurs at different paces for different people, and hence if your journey to losing excess weight seems a little slower than others, then fret not! Stay consistent with your nutrition, exercise, and infrared saunas and you will see significant results, sooner rather than later!
So, if you are ready to unravel the benefits of infrared therapy, then simply get in touch with us, and our experts at Infra Red Body Wraps will take care of the rest!
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna
What are some of the most common infrared sauna health benefits?
While weight loss seems to be the most popular benefit of infrared saunas, these sauna sessions also provide numerous other benefits, including but not limited to improved cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, and enhanced relaxation and stress relief.
How frequently should I take infrared saunas?
If you want to lose weight, you can take two-three infrared body wrap sessions per week. However, if you have achieved your desired body weight, you can simply opt for a session once a week, or even once every fifteen days, to maintain your weight and reap the other body benefits that infrared waves offer.
How much water weight can I lose with infrared saunas?
If you are well-hydrated, you can lose anywhere up to 4 pounds of water weight in a single session due to the rise in your core temperature. However, you might regain this lost water weight, when you rehydrate during the course of the day.
