The weight loss journey can be a challenging process for anyone. Sometimes maintaining a solid workout schedule and healthy diet are just not enough – you need something else to supplement your weight loss. A sauna may be a great add-on for you!
Of course, using a sauna alone won’t work for weight loss, but what it can do is ramp up your metabolism and help sweat out toxins and excess water weight. But before we get into the details of how a sauna is good for weight loss, let’s take a deep dive into your metabolism’s role in all of this.
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Sauna and Metabolism
Metabolism is the process where food and drinks we consume are transformed into energy. That energy helps burn calories. In the weight loss journey, having a high metabolism is helpful because it means your body is likely burning more calories.
But if you have a slower metabolism, the weight loss journey can become a bit more challenging. That’s where a sauna can help, because it may help speed your metabolic process. The higher or faster your metabolism is, the quicker it is to lose calories.
Potential Benefits of Sauna for Weight Loss
The heat of a sauna may help boost your metabolism by burning more calories. It can also increase your heart rate, which leads to a higher calorie burn.
The sauna and weight loss connection has been widely studied for years, with one study finding saunas increase the metabolic rate by as much as 25 to 30 percent!
If you are having difficulty with a slow metabolism, the heat of saunas can help speed your metabolism. The heat of saunas also help in many different ways to reach your goals.
Other weight loss, health, and appearance-enhancing benefits of sauna include:
- Smoothing cellulite. The heat from saunas detoxifies lymphonic acid that causes cellulite around the body. Additionally it increases blood flow and destabilizes the fat tissues.
- Increase sweat/toxin removal. As you sweat in a sauna your pores release toxins and metals including mercury and zinc. Additionally, an increase of sweat helps blood flow with the lymphatic system.
- Stress reduction. Stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol, which can cause weight gain. Sauna use reduces cortisol hormones and more production of serotonin.
Saunas are Tools – Not Solutions
While we are finding ways to help with our metabolism, one beneficial way that is relaxing but helps boost your heart rates are saunas. As much as saunas help boost your metabolism it is not the only tool you should lose in your weight loss journey. Being active and maintaining a healthy diet are the key factors of weight loss. Saunas are beneficial to help raise metabolism but should not be the key player in your weight loss journey.
A Few Considerations
Although there are many benefits to saunas, there are also a few risks, the largest being dehydration. While in a sauna, your body can lose up to a pint of fluid in just a few minutes, so recommended sauna use should be no longer than 15 minutes.
Make sure you drink lots of water before and after your sauna, and eat a healthy meal before or after. This will help stave off dehydration.
You also want to avoid overheating. If you start to feel light headed, dizzy, or ill, step out of the sauna and make your next session shorter until you build up a tolerance. Remember to listen to your body. While normal sauna use is around 15 minutes, do what is normal for you.
You should always check with your health provider, though, before beginning a sauna routine. For example, if you have kidney issues, the risk of dehydration may outweigh the benefits of sauna.
Make Your Sauna Work For You
Overall, if you are looking for a nice relaxing way to boost your metabolism, saunas can be your tool. Be cautious of the amount of time you put yourself in a sauna and be aware of the risks. Now step in, sweat out and enjoy the heat!
Looking to add a sauna to your home? Check out our sauna shop!
