Get The Benefits Of Saunas

Q. My local gym has a sauna. Are there any health benefits in using one?

A. Traditional saunas are 'Finnish saunas' or 'dry heat baths', which consist of a wood-panelled room and a radiant heater. Although Finnish saunas are now standard in most gyms, fitness centres and resorts, the development of far-infrared saunas has made saunas more affordable and accessible for home use. These saunas generally use carbon panels to produce far-infrared radiation, which can penetrate the body's surface to produce profuse sweating at lower ambient temperatures than those of conventional saunas.

Sauna bathing provides many benefits. Saunas increase blood flow to the skin, which helps nourish your skin and subcutaneous tissue. Heat can also aid sore or tired muscles and joints.

By inducing sweating, saunas also help to keep your pores open and flush out toxins, so towel off regularly while sweating. Also, keep yourself well hydrated and replace lost electrolytes with coconut juice or an electrolyte drink—never alcohol. Some sauna-based detoxification programs, such as the Narconon International drug-rehabilitation program, include nutritional supplements.

Perhaps the most researched benefits of saunas concern the cardiovascular system. By increasing blood flow and heart rate, sauna bathing provides a low-impact, nonstressful
cardiovascular workout. This can be particularly beneficial for people who may otherwise be unable to do aerobic exercise. And recent studies suggest sauna bathing improves symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with chronic cardiac failure, and helps to lower blood pressure and improve cardiac function. If you have heart problems, chat with your doctor before including some sauna time in your health plan.

By Marc Cohen, professor of complementary medicine at RMIT University (Melbourne)

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