How Infrared Saunas Differ From Traditional Saunas

Sweating, although it may seem unpleasant in certain situations, is actually an incredibly important and valuable physical process.  One of the best ways to burn calories and detoxify the body is through sweating.  Obviously, intense exercise that gets the heart racing and the blood pumping can also work to produce a very good sweat.  However, for those who want to sweat even more or for longer than they do through normal exercise, or for those who are injured or otherwise unable to exercise, saunas provide a fantastic alternative way to producing a good sweat.

Understanding the Difference Between Infrared Saunas and Traditional Saunas

Some individuals immediately fall in love with the intense heat they encounter in saunas, while others may need to gently and slowly acclimate to it over time.  As long as an individual remains properly hydrated during and after sauna use and is not suffering from medical conditions that make sauna use unwise, saunas can be highly beneficial.  Both infrared and traditional saunas provide the heat necessary to help your body release toxins, lose weight, relieve pain, increase circulation, purify your skin and even relax.  That said, there are some basic differences between the two sauna types.

Traditional saunas provide a high heat, low humidity environment for an individual to heat up and sweat in.  They are normally kept between one hundred eighty-five and one hundred ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit and have heater rocks that can be splashed with water to create steam and a blast of heat.  Rather than heating the air and thereby indirectly heating the body, infrared saunas have infrared rays to heat the body directly.  Infrared saunas typically have three settings–near-infrared, middle-infrared and far-infrared.  Near-infrared levels work well to heal wounds and improve immune function, middle-infrared levels work well to increase blood circulation and relax muscles, and far-infrared levels work well to detoxify the body.

Aren’t sure which type of sauna is best for you?  Obviously, saunas provide the most benefit when they are used regularly.  Since both infrared and traditional saunas can generate the heat and sweat that help the body to detoxify, burn calories, and much more, this means that the best sauna for you is the one that you are willing to use regularly.  Take the time to try both, and you may determine that you prefer one over the other, or maybe even switch back and forth between the two every so often.

Enjoy, and happy sweating!