Sauna for weight loss - what is the effect of infrared

Infrared saunas are in great demand primarily due to their relaxing effect. But, besides this, it has been scientifically proven that infrared steam rooms are also good for health. With their help, it is possible to enter long-term remission in some chronic diseases and prevent complications of incipient diseases. This topic contains a selection of indications for using an infrared sauna and how these steam rooms have a therapeutic effect.

Traditional saunas work on the principle of heat transfer based on circulating hot air. To heat up, you need to create a high temperature in the sauna room. The operating principle of an infrared sauna differs from a traditional steam room. Here, heat is generated due to IR radiation from heaters and, without affecting the surrounding air, warms only the surfaces in the room and, naturally, the human body. The temperature of the surrounding space in this case does not change much. Thanks to this, the thermal energy generated by the heaters has a targeted effect on the body, penetrating the skin. The temperature is set in a range that is pleasant for the body: 40-60°C. This ensures a high level of efficiency and comfort.

Features of an infrared sauna

An infrared sauna is a special cabin for thermal procedures.

What is the difference between a sauna and a regular bath?

Initially, the bathhouse was not intended for weight loss. The principle of operation of the bath is to heat the air in the room. Hot air affects the human body, resulting in the release of sweat.

Unlike a sauna, an infrared sauna acts directly. It heats the human body, not the air. This greatly increases the effect of a sauna for weight loss.

Thanks to the heaters, which are installed in different places of the cabin, the body warms up evenly.

The procedure meets all safety requirements. The heat waves of the heaters are at a level familiar to humans. The cabin walls are made of natural untreated wood.

Most often, cabins are designed for one person. But there are also more spacious ones - for 2-5 people.

How it works

An infrared sauna is a small cabin with heating elements emitting infrared waves around the perimeter. Infrared heat warms up the body of the person inside, while the temperature inside the cabin does not exceed 55 °C. Waves are natural and safe for the human body. Subjectively, they are perceived as soft, pleasant warmth. The waves quickly heat the body, penetrating to a depth of up to 4 cm. The sensations are reminiscent of the effect of light physical activity: heart rate is increased, sweating is moderate. The key difference from a regular sauna is that it is not the air that is heated, but the body directly.

Benefits for weight loss

Some are still distrustful of this method of losing weight. Mistrust arises due to ignorance of the effects of the sauna on the human body.

The statement that in a bath “fat tissue melts from heat” is misunderstood. In fact, through profuse sweating, the body gets rid of waste, toxins and salt, which allows you to lose several kilograms.

Salts play a huge role in weight loss. Medical studies have shown that salts retain water in the body. Water neutralizes the toxicity of salt, so the body stores it. This adds extra pounds that are not beneficial to the body.

During a session in the sauna, not only does sweating occur, but also the metabolic rate increases, blood circulation improves, and all muscles warm up. This gives an additional effect.

Benefits of visiting infrared saunas for the human body

For a clear understanding, we will constantly compare well-known traditional steam rooms and baths with innovative infrared saunas. In traditional saunas, the environment, that is, the air in the room, is warmed up first. Only after this does a person begin to receive heat from the created steam. This is not very good for the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system. When the steam temperature was excessively high, it happened that a person received burns to the upper respiratory tract. In a sauna with infrared emitters, this problem is eliminated. IR rays penetrate the body through the skin, without overheating the air. Heat penetration can be carried out up to 45 mm deep. During this process, the skin pores open, and the person feels quite comfortable.

Standard electric saunas use power sources with a power of up to 7 kW. To install such a heater, you need to use a specialist. In the case of using an infrared sauna, even a large area, it will be enough to have emitters with a power of up to 2.4 kW. Such a cabin can even be installed at home and connected to a standard three-pin outlet. At the same time, the operation of the IR cabin does not require the installation of ventilation ducts, because no steam will form in it. Another positive feature will be that condensation and subsequent fungus will not form either in the cabin or outside it.

An infrared sauna is the safest and most affordable way to remove toxins from the body. Its advantages include:

1. Change in skin color.

Synthetic clothing, chlorinated water, bad habits, chemicals, dirt, sweat accumulate over the years of a person's life and provoke the accumulation of toxins in the human body. With the help of infrared radiation it is possible to remove a significant percentage of these toxins from the skin.

2. Restoration of damaged cells.

It has long been proven and has been used in practice for many years in physiotherapy to heal wound surfaces with infrared rays, which in turn increase the release of growth hormone. Even the anti-aging effects of infrared saunas on the human body have been noticed.

3. Detoxifying effect.

This effect is achieved due to increased sweating. It is known that the most effective way to eliminate toxins is through the skin. By carrying out periodic detoxification, you will reduce the load on the filtration organs, that is, the liver and kidneys. The flow of long-wave infrared rays provokes sweating. Thanks to this, accumulated toxic chemicals and heavy metals are gradually released from the body. Sweating can be achieved through physical activity, but this will not give such an effective result as visiting an infrared cabin.

4. Improving blood circulation throughout the body.

Strengthening the cardiovascular system is perhaps the most significant benefit of an infrared sauna. Regular visits to the infrared sauna will bring many benefits. Even after the first session, a person will feel a surge of strength due to improved blood flow and tissue oxidation, just like after physical exercise. At the same time, the elasticity of blood vessels also improves.

When the body warms up, blood flows better to the skin, blood vessels dilate, and thermoregulation processes improve. Thanks to this, swelling of the internal organs is reduced and proper metabolic processes are restored.

5. Consolidation of the achieved results from physical exercises.

Infrared sessions can be used not only to achieve a number of natural health benefits. By visiting such a sauna, you will be able to consolidate your results achieved through physical exercises. People who regularly attended IR treatments after the gym noticed that they lost weight faster.

In addition, according to information published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, weight loss sessions in an infrared sauna can burn up to 600 calories. During a weight loss session in a sauna, your body temperature rises. The body must work hard to cool itself down, causing a healthy sweat. Using an infrared sauna increases your heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate, burning more calories, resulting in greater weight loss. And blood flow increases, increasing from 5-7 liters to 13 liters per minute. Additionally, regular sauna use can provide many of the same benefits as regular exercise, such as improved cardiovascular health. That's right, using infrared therapy to lose weight is like giving yourself a passive cardio workout.

A thirty-minute stay in an infrared cabin can be compared to riding a bicycle and playing tennis for the same period of time.

6. Fight against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

The principle of fighting bacteria and viruses in an infrared sauna is based on artificially creating a fever. An artificial increase in temperature kills pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the human body. Plus it is also a workout for the body. Therefore, IR saunas can be used for disease prevention.

Fighting yeast, mold and fungi. These opportunistic infections are among the most undiagnosed and problematic, causing all sorts of vague symptoms and health conditions. Every person's body contains some amount of beneficial yeast. They are harmless and serve a purpose. Under certain conditions, some of them, such as Candida Albicans, overgrow and become pathogenic. They release extremely toxic chemicals into our bodies. Yeast, mold and mildew do not tolerate heat well, so saunas are ideal for controlling them.

Infrared saunas are highly recommended as part of a comprehensive parasite treatment protocol. Parasites can be found in the brain and other tissues of the body. Most parasites cannot be identified because there are no test systems to identify them. Even identified types of parasites are difficult to treat because they are resistant to existing treatment methods. They can survive incredibly even with the most powerful therapy because any parasites killed lay eggs, which hatch within a few weeks and the cycle begins again. Parasites are very intolerant of heat. Sequential infrared sauna is an ideal treatment for parasites in combination with medications.

7. Pain relief.

Due to the fact that the rays are able to penetrate the body to a sufficient depth, they can be used as an excellent pain reliever. Typically, such therapy is indicated to alleviate well-being in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Regular visits to the infrared sauna relieve pain in joints and muscles. This is explained by stimulation of blood flow in the affected areas of the body.

Long-term studies have shown that most patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis feel significantly better immediately after visiting an infrared sauna. Plus, frequent procedures in the infrared cabin relieve chronic fatigue.

Pros of use

In addition to losing extra pounds, the sauna has other positive aspects:

An infrared sauna for weight loss can be used at home; it is not necessary to visit a salon. The cabin can be installed in any room, connected to a 220 V outlet. No special conditions for installation and use are required. A sauna is more mobile than a bathhouse.
Preparing to use the sauna takes no more than 10 minutes.
The procedure itself lasts up to 40 minutes. In a regular bath this takes 2-3 hours.
There are no age restrictions for visiting the sauna. But there is one for the bath, because... the temperature there is much higher.
The body is warmed up evenly by infrared rays. Temperature 40-60 degrees. This is 2 times less than the temperature in the bath. Therefore, there is no thermal load on the body in an infrared sauna.
Removes up to 80% of excess water from the body and up to 20% of solid toxic substances.
Normalizes blood pressure and central nervous system function.

Indications for infrared sauna sessions

in order to remove toxic substances from the body that have entered it from the outside, including nicotine and alcohol;
to lower blood cholesterol levels (this reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stabilizes blood pressure);
in order to increase the body's resistance to various infections (prevention of influenza and ARVI);
in order to suppress the activity of harmful microbes. For this purpose, infrared sauna is used to treat chronic diseases of the throat and middle ear;
to restore limb mobility (rehabilitation after injuries);
to balance weight and fight cellulite;
in order to stimulate blood microcirculation and reduce muscle pain. Heat helps reduce sciatica and headaches;
for the purpose of regulating digestive disorders;
to achieve a cosmetic effect. Visiting an infrared sauna promotes deep cleansing of the skin. The skin becomes smooth, elastic and elastic. Infrared sauna sessions help cure dermatitis, acne, blackheads and pimples.

Visiting rules

Here are some important rules that will help you get the maximum effect from visiting the sauna:

A contrast shower in front of the steam room enhances the anti-cellulite effect. Switch the water from cold to hot for 10 minutes. Too large a temperature difference can harm the body, so temperatures should be comfortable.
After the sauna you also need to take a shower and let your body rest for 15-30 minutes.
If possible, take a swim in the pool after the steam room - this option is healthier for the body, because The temperature of the pool water affects the entire body at once.
Don't forget about water. Before visiting the sauna, you should drink a glass of water or herbal tea. Herbal drinks activate metabolic processes. Linden tea removes toxins best. The more water you drink, the more toxic substances will be eliminated. After the procedure, you also need to consume enough water to prevent dehydration.
Do not drink alcohol on the day of your sauna.
The session is carried out 2-3 hours after eating. You can’t eat immediately after leaving; you need to wait a couple of hours.
A weight loss sauna provides approximately 300 calories per hour. Energy is spent on active sweating. Consumption can be increased if you do a workout or warm-up before your visit.
The key to success in losing weight is regularity. You need to visit the steam room at least once a week. A course of visits lasting 1 month helps to get rid of 4-5 kg of excess weight.
People who regularly visit the steam room notice that the craving for flour and sweets decreases. This happens because the bath normalizes the functioning of the liver, pancreas and adrenal glands.
The sauna is good for weight loss because it not only relieves the body of excess weight, but also heals it.

Visiting the sauna after training

You can increase the effect of a sauna for weight loss by training.

The best option is to carry out the procedure after a full workout. Infrared radiation helps remove lactic acid from the body. Pain after training appears precisely because of it. The heat will relax the muscles and relieve pain.

It is not recommended to start a session immediately after training. Give your body a little rest and restore your pulse.

You can visit the sauna before training. It perfectly warms up the muscles, provides an influx of oxygen to tissue cells and stimulates metabolic processes. Thanks to this, the body responds better to power loads.

Infrared sauna - benefits for beauty and health

IR rays effectively act not only on the level of fluid in the body, but also on fatty layers. So, in an infrared sauna you can also fight cellulite. Intensive deep heating of tissues promotes the breakdown of fats, which, together with massage procedures, gives an amazing result - the skin is toned, smoothed, and rejuvenated. In addition, infrared radiation has an excellent effect on problem areas of the skin. So, after several sessions, acne disappears, skin color evens out, excessive pigmentation disappears, and swelling goes away. All this occurs due to intense heating of tissues, which leads to increased blood circulation and acceleration of metabolic processes.

Harm

No matter how beneficial visiting a sauna is, it also has negative sides.

This is not to say that a steam room can cause great damage to the body, but there are situations when you should refrain from procedures. The main contraindications are given below.

To protect yourself from adverse consequences, you need to follow the rules of safe sauna use.

Infrared radiation has a powerful effect on the entire body. You need to understand that in the presence of certain diseases, such an intervention can have negative consequences. Therefore, before starting the procedures, consult a doctor who can tell you about all the risks of visiting a sauna in a particular situation.

It is not recommended to visit the sauna more than four times a week. The duration of the first session is about 20 minutes. The following can be increased to 30-40 minutes.

The depth of penetration of radiation into the body and brain is 2 cm. Its effect on the cerebral cortex has so far been little studied. Therefore, do not neglect your bath cap. It will reduce the thermal impact.

Contraindications

Despite the beneficial effects of an infrared sauna, in some cases you need to visit the steam room with caution. When trying to lose weight, you should first think about your health.

The sauna itself cannot do any harm. But infrared radiation and high temperatures negatively affect a person who has any diseases.

There are contraindications for the following diseases:

malignant tumors;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
ARVI;
acute respiratory infections;
diabetes;
blood diseases;
tuberculosis;
uterine fibroids;
fungal and parasitic diseases;
purulent processes;
bronchial asthma and diseases of the respiratory system.

Visiting is prohibited if you have artificial joints, prostheses, rods and other types of metal implants. The exception is silicone implants.

Also, you should not carry out the procedure during pregnancy and menstruation.

In the following cases, you can visit the sauna after consultation with your doctor: diseases of the kidneys, liver, endocrine system, headaches, alcohol addiction.

The secret to losing weight quickly

To achieve the maximum effect from a sauna for weight loss, you need to follow only 3 rules:

Eat properly and balanced. Eliminate sweets, flour and too fatty foods from your diet.
Exercise. This could be training in the gym, morning jogging, dancing classes or any other physical activity.
Visit the sauna once a week. Use scrubs and masks to treat or prevent cellulite.

Remember that a sauna means high temperatures. If you have any doubts about this procedure or have any medical conditions, please consult your doctor.

The article was checked and approved by Elizaveta Anatolyevna Krizhanovskaya, a practicing family doctor - see the authors of the site

Infrared sauna for weight loss: reviews and results

On the Internet you can find many reviews about infrared saunas for weight loss. Most of those who have personally tried this procedure were satisfied. Women note that the process of losing weight is significantly accelerated, in addition, the elasticity of the skin increases and its condition improves.

Examples of real reviews of an infrared sauna for weight loss:

Almost everyone notes that for best results it is necessary to combine a visit to the infrared sauna with exercise and a properly selected diet.

Author: Olga Vasilyeva. Photo: Instagram, StarTikTok, YouTube. If you are the author of one of the photos and do not agree with its publication, contact the administration and we will correct the error.