Scientifically there has been a breakthrough in the longevity field.
It turns out the shortening of cellular telomeres when they age, then can't divide into more healthy cells, and can't protect the DNA inside. When that happens over time there is increased cancer risk, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and stem cell damage, ultimately shortening lifespan.
Our environment is already full of toxins, chemicals, EMF and pollutants that contribute to causing body wide inflammation and breakdown of those cell telomeres.
In the air, water, food, media, there's this agenda against our health and well being. In the medical industry, they treat the symptoms, and never the root cause.
How do we combat this? How do we detox, increase longevity and positively target every body system?
The solution is the Sauna, as it distributes numerous benefits to all of the body's systems, the muscles, brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney and cellular system.
This can be done in less than 20 mins/day 3 times a week. An indoor sauna can be used by virtually everyone even if it's just for a few minutes. They take up hardly any space and can fit easily in a corner.
So, what are the benefits of infrared sauna? What claims have some scientific backing? If you dig through the research (it appears that there are more research studies on the benefits of infrared as opposed to traditional sauna), there is substantial support for hopping in the sauna on a regular basis. Here are a few of the key benefits.
Sweating has always been touted as a tremendous method of detoxification. Infrared sauna causes you to heat from the inside out which means sweating begins at a lower temperature and is typically more profuse than results from traditional sauna.3 We already know that the body detoxifies naturally quite well through the skin and about the filtration functions of the liver – increased sweating may allow those systems to operate even more optimally.
With the movement toward “Ancestral Living” and “getting back to our roots to get healthy,” one of the things experts have observed is that when our bodies go through significant temperature changes, there are associated health benefits. Certain hormone dumps and responses by our immune system only occur when the body is forced into temperature regulation. Today we live in a temperature-stable world. When we go from home to car to work to car to home, we experience less than five to ten degrees difference in temperature. Cold and heat therapy are becoming very popular because we know of the benefits temperature fluctuation can bring to our physiological systems.4
IR sauna has been shown to be helpful for alleviating anxiety and depression, which may have to do with sauna’s impact on increasing B-endorphins.5
Pain reduction is probably one of the most well-studied benefits of infrared sauna. Think of the opportunities to reduce intake of pain medication – resulting in further detoxifiction – if sauna can produce a consistent reduction in noticeable pain! Other studies are showing positive impacts on chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and certain arthritides like Sjogren’s.6
It goes without saying that a few minutes in a sauna brings it “down a notch.” The heat helps muscles to let go and and tension to dissipate, and the overall feeling of wellness that sauna produces is well-known. A forced 30-minute time out is a wonderful way to take a tech/work/stress break that will prompt a “thank you” response by our bodies.
Probably the second most-studied effect of infrared sauna is in cardiac patients. A decrease in blood pressure and improvements in circulation are just two of the benefits noted in studies.7
Oxidative stress is the relative inability of our bodies to detoxify at a rate that is consistent with their exposure to toxins. When we are under oxidative stress, disease conditions like autoimmune disorders, cancer, and metabolic disease are much more likely to occur. Oxidative stress also contributes to the general process of aging. Wrinkles, gray hair, and slowed metabolism are all signs of oxidative stress. Several studies show that infrared sauna can slow the impact of oxidative stress on our bodies.89
So now perhaps you have decided that infrared sauna would be a complement to your goals for healthy living. It is important to ensure you are doing your sauna therapy in a way that allows you to get the most out of the experience:
Sauna Use Recommendations
Most people try out an infrared sauna at a gym or spa, but the health benefits seem to be greatest if sauna is used multiple times a week. So, having one in your home makes sense if you are going use it regularly. The good news is that purchasing a sauna for your home can be affordable. You can get a single-person infrared sauna for about $1,500. They take up hardly any space and can fit easily in a corner. Infrared sauna requires less power than traditional sauna. There are criteria to consider before buying. Not all saunas are created equal, and there are a lot of manufacturers hitting the market with sub-par products because infrared sauna is becoming so popular. Here are the most important features:
Traditional sauna has a small stove inside that heats the room. On top of the stove are rocks that can be sprinkled with water to produce steam. This means that the humidity in a traditional sauna can vary, unlike the infrared option. Both saunas are built to get you sweating, but the infrared sauna is a more deeply penetrating heat and can have a person producing sweat at much lower temperatures. The traditional sauna typically ranges from 185-195 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the infrared temperature ranges from 120-160 degrees Fahrenheit.2 The traditional sauna heats from one end of the room, where the stove is located, whereas the infrared sauna is equipped with panels throughout the space to create a more consistent heat experience.
The wood that your sauna is constructed from is an extremely important consideration. The aim of infrared sauna is detoxification. The literature conflicts about detoxification, but think about heating low-grade or treated wood and the chemicals that might be release into the sauna that you would inhale. It seems the most desirable woods are the Canadian or Western red cedar and hemlock. Other woods used in sauna construction are basswood, eucalyptus, aspen poplar, and California redwood. My recommendation is to discuss any concerns you may have about wood toxicity with your sauna dealer, and make a personal decision based on your needs and sensitivities.
There are many saunas that come with colored lights. There is research that might suggest exposure to certain colors of lights can have particular effects on your health. If nothing else, rotating lights look super cool inside a sauna.
You will need to decide if having or not having music is important to you. I like a peaceful playlist while in a sauna, but some want silence. Most saunas at this point come with a built-in music option.
Stretching or performing yoga under infrared lighting is therapeutic. You may want to consider purchasing a sauna with a removable bench so you can create stretching space.
You can go very tiny with an infrared sauna, but you should consider whether you will ever want more than one person in there. I like to shift my position a lot, and like a little room to move, but of course the price point increases with size.
Infrared saunas are simple to purchase, set up, and use. But things like wood warping and mechanical issues can happen, and you want to be protected. Make sure your sauna comes with excellent customer service and a broadly encompassing warranty.
Here is what we know: too much exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) can be disruptive to sensitive processes in our body. When you sit in a little sauna box with a high exposure to EMF, you cannot move away from its source. If the purpose of sauna is detoxification, being surrounded by disruptive EMF forces may be very counterproductive. Therefore, it is important to buy from a manufacturer that acknowledges and addresses the EMF concerns about infrared sauna.10 Manufacturers should install heaters that are low to no EMF and the entire sauna should be tested for EMF leakage before it is packaged and shipped.
The health benefits are immense. Ours exhibit every feature you would want and sadly most Saunas on the market do not include everything like, our infrared light technology, carbon heating tubing, non-solvent/processed Canadian oak wood, waterproof floors, high quality speakers, thick glass encasing, and lifetime warranty.
Over time, physical beauty is only possible with inner health. How can we fight the aging process and system we live in? By targeting the health of the body's main systems for the muscles, brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney and cells.
The only one that distributes numerous benefits to all of the body's systems, that you can do in less than 20 mins for 3 times a week. An indoor sauna can be used by virtually everyone even if it's just for a few minutes. The health benefits of infared light with carbon tubing and non- solvent or processed Canadian oak wood with waterproof floors, speakers, and high quality, thick glass encasing are the best made in the world.
In terms of price points and similar model, these are the top of the class starting with the most economical and moving to more features and space. These are the most popular and highly rated saunas in the world.
A 1 - 2 person Models
Dynamic Gracia 1-2-person Low EMF (Under 8MG) FAR Infrared Sauna (Canadian Hemlock)
Golden Designs 2-Person "Hotel Edition" Full Spectrum PureTech™ Near Zero EMF FAR Infrared Sauna with Himalayan Salt Bar (Canadian Hemlock)
Golden Designs Nora 2 Person Hybrid (PureTech™ Full Spectrum IR or Traditional Stove) Outdoor Sauna (GDI-8222-01) - Canadian Red Cedar Interior
3 -4 Person Models
Maxxus Bellevue 3-Person Low EMF (Under 8MG) FAR Infrared Sauna (Canadian Hemlock)
Golden Designs 3-Person Full Spectrum PureTech™ Near Zero EMF FAR Infrared Sauna with Himalayan Salt Bar (Canadian Hemlock)
Maxxus 3-Person Corner Low EMF (Under 8MG) FAR Infrared Sauna (Canadian Hemlock)
6+ Person Models
Dynamic La Sagrada 6-person Ultra Low EMF (Under 3MG) FAR Infrared Sauna
Golden Designs 6-Person Full Spectrum PureTech™ Near Zero EMF FAR Infrared Sauna with Himalayan Salt Bar
Golden Designs Bergen 6 Person Outdoor Traditional Sauna
Golden Designs Karlstad 6 Person Hybrid (PureTech™ Full Spectrum IR or Traditional Stove) Outdoor Sauna