Dry, hot health boxes
It seems that every week, there’s a new health trend on social media. You know, the ones “guaranteed” to help you transform, lose weight, and change your life.
But what if we told you there’s actually an old trend that already does all of these things and more?
It’s true! And when we say old, we mean thousands of years old because that’s how long saunas have been improving humans’ overall health.
From the Mayans using sweat houses 3,000 years ago to Native American sweat lodges to Turkish baths to Russian banyas, saunas have been proven through generations to be one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve numerous aspects of your health. If you don’t believe the centuries of science and need a modern, real-world example, look no further than the country of Finland – considered the healthiest country in the world – where saunas are such a regular part of their culture that they have 2 million saunas for the millions of people that live there.
Why saunas are so effective? It’s simple – heat.
A sauna is typically a room heated between 158° to 212° Fahrenheit. Most use dry heat, though Turkish-style saunas or steam rooms, often have high levels of humidity. Either way, the heat raises skin temperatures to roughly 104° Fahrenheit, which then causes you to sweat a lot. It is not uncommon to lose about a pint of sweat while spending a short time in a sauna.
Sweating has numerous health benefits, including detoxifying your body, opening and clearing pores, and improving skin health.
While the heat is felt on the outside, the health benefits really ramp up internally because sitting in a sauna’s heat causes your heart rate to increase as much as 100-150 beats a minute. Your blood vessels will begin to widen, which increases circulation in a similar way as low to moderate exercise. Here are just a few benefits of spending time in the sauna:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Reducing stress
- Aiding workout recovery
- Loosening stiff joints
- Burning calories
- Improving sleep
It should be noted that sitting in the sauna can have the same risks as sitting outside on a hot day, such as dehydration and fatigue. It’s important to only sit in a sauna for 5-20 minutes and build your tolerance with each session.
The “trend” of saunas has withstood the test of time for a reason. They are remarkably effective, with benefits often far beyond what even the latest social media fad touts.
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