There are pretty bold claims to be found when it comes to how beneficial sauna and heat therapy is for our bodies. Here we clarify two claims that we see everywhere...Detox and Weight-loss.
Detoxification - contrary to popular thought 'sweating it out in a sauna' doesn't detox 'heavy metals' etc in the way you may think it does. The act of sweating is a mechanism to cool down the body when it's overheating. Drinking water is the most effective way to flush out toxins. Staying well hydrated allows your kidneys and gastrointestinal tract to take care of waste products and toxins naturally. Don't use sauna to detox, use water and your body will take care of the rest. Excessive time spent in a sauna, of any type, can lead to dehydration and heat stroke. Always stay hydrated before, during and after sauna use.
Weight-loss - here at Sealieve we don't believe in misinformation or misrepresentation. You'll see many claims that infrared sauna blankets can help you burn up to 600 calories. However, there just aren't enough scientific studies to support this claim. What we do know is that heat exposure uses thermogenesis (heat production) to regulate body temperature which in turn burns calories. We also know that cold stress (ice bath/sea swims) activates brown fat - brown fat being the 'healthy' fat stored within our bodies. Once brown fat is activated, through cold therapy for example, it triggers a reaction that ultimately helps the body to use energy (burn fat) more effectively.
So if the taglines detox/weight loss lead you to investigate the benefits of sauna know that our infrared sauna blanket DOES indeed have a positive impact on your metabolism, but in a much healthier and sustainable way. Like anything, it takes consistent, healthy practices to get to where you want to be. If your aim is to improve your health, your sleep, your recovery, your mental health then regular heat therapy sessions will do just that.