9 Surprising Benefits to Using a Sauna

Many people consider owning a sauna a luxury. Something that’s just “not for them.” Once upon a time in-home saunas may have been a rarity, but as people come to realize the true, life-changing benefits they can get from a sauna this attitude is changing – quickly.

Let us introduce 9 surprising benefits of using a sauna:

1. It reduces stress – Stress can negatively affect your health. Thankfully, your sauna can help relieve it. The heat relaxes your muscles, improves circulation and releases endorphins – those “feel good” chemicals that kick stress relief into high gear.  
2. It soothes muscles and joints – Those same endorphins can help ease muscle and joint pain. Plus, the increased body temperature increases your circulation, speeding up the healing process. In fact, athletes often use saunas to soothe their muscles following a workout.
3. It flushes toxins – The deep sweating promoted by a sauna bath can help reduce toxins including copper, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury and chemicals that are absorbed into your body simply by your daily interactions with your environment.
4. It cleanses your skin – Deep sweating doesn’t just flush toxins, it flushes our dead skin cells and bacteria. Studies have shown that clearing the pores in this fashion improves capillary circulation and helps your skin look softer.
5. It helps you sleep deeper – Body temperatures rise in the evening and fall at bedtime, telling your body it’s time for sleep. A calming 20-minute sauna bath an hour or two before bed can help enhance this rise-and-fall, preparing your body for a deep, restful sleep.
6. It helps you stay social – A private sauna is the perfect place for quiet conversation with those you care about most. And we all know how important quality social relationships are to human well-being.
7. It boosts your cardiovascular performance – Every time you quickly change from the hot sauna (allowing your core temperature to rise) to a cool temperature, your heart rate increases up to 60 percent. That’s close to what you experience during moderate exercise.
8. It burns calories – A sauna isn’t a miracle calorie-burning tool. But if you’re working to lose weight, it can definitely be a tool in your toolbelt. When you sweat, you can burn nearly 300 calories.
9. It can fight illness – The heat and steam make your body ramp up production of white blood cells, which helps your body fight off illness. Want an added bonus? The steam can help ease congestion when you’re feeling poorly.

So there you have it. Nine surprising benefits of using a sauna in your home. Plus, here’s one more: It just feels good.