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Last Updated on June 29, 2022 by Rebecca Huff
There's no denying sunny days brighten my mood. Enjoying time in the sun can lift you out of the blues, give you precious vitamin D, and many other health benefits. The sun's rays regulate our sleeping patterns and supports physiological processes.
Although, people have grown more and more sun-phobic while forgetting the powerful healing benefits of sunshine. One way to reap the benefits of light, without the risk of skin cancer is using a near infrared sauna.
If you experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, you may benefit from 15-20 minutes of daily infrared light therapy. Lifting the mood is not the only benefit of healing light therapy, check it out:
Benefits of Infrared Saunas
- Boosts the immune system
- Improves overall well-being
- Detoxifies the body
- Weight loss & increases metabolism
- Lowers chronic pain
- Reduces side effects of diabetes
- Eases joint stiffness
- Reduces stress
- Increases collagen production for better-looking skin
Detoxification benefits of near infrared sauna
You hear the word detox alot these days, but what does it really mean? When it comes to basking in near infrared rays you can expect the highest level of detoxification. Much deeper than in an ordinary stove-type heated sauna.
When your sauna raises your core body temperature, your body’s natural reaction is to sweat. Sweating in a relaxed state promotes blood flow to your organs, creating a detox that starts at the cellular level and reaches the whole body. In just one 20-minute session, you could release up to a pint of sweat—and with it, harmful substances that have built up over time.
Saunaspace
The reason I purchased my sauna was that I tested positive for mold toxicity for a second time. In addition to the protocol my doctor prescribed, she also suggested sitting in a sauna. Sweating is an excellent way to detox mold from deep inside the body.
An infrared sauna is considered a dry sauna. This is the best choice when it comes to detoxing mold. The heat lamps rays penetrate the tissue releasing mycotoxins. After all, the most natural way to release toxins from human tissue is sweating.
Anti-Aging Strategy
The nice side benefits of a sauna session include skin rejuvenation by way of a boost in collagen and elastin. Regular use of infrared light stimulates production of both in your body. You'll notice that youthful glow returning to your skin after regular visits to your sauna.
In one study, skin roughness and collagen density were measured after spending time in infrared light only twice per week for thirty sessions. Researchers noted a “significant improvement” in skin complexion and feeling. 1 You'll notice tighter skin and less blemishes as well.
Speaking of skin conditions, infrared sauna is often used for the autoimmune condition psoriasis. The deep penetration of red light therapy into human tissue helps to improve circulation, boosts immune function, releases toxins, and delivers nutrients.
An unintended benefit of my sauna time has been a significant improvement in my rosacea! While my face does get red while I'm in the sauna, the skin where my rosacea usually flares up, has been much clearer since I started bathing. For me, this was further proof that it does matter what type of sauna you use, as I used to regularly sit in a hot stove type sauna which only exacerbated my rosacea flare-ups. Between my sauna sessions and my rosacea skin care routine, my complexion has been looking much better.
Physical Performance
Using infrared heat increases circulation to the tissue and improves muscle recovery. Athletes use heat therapy as a go-to for muscle pain, but in fact, this isn't the only benefit. Red light therapy may also stimulate the release of human growth hormones, which can help an athlete recover faster and come back stronger. 2
Infrared sauna therapy is frequently used for pain relief and wound healing. “By stimulating mitochondria at a cellular level, it can improve circulation, oxygenation, and healing responses to help joint and muscle pain sufferers find natural relief.” 3 Especially productive for alleviating back pain and also for reducing pain with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Weight Loss
Being in the sauna feels relaxing, yet your heart rate will increase. This is good though, because while it doesn't replace exercise, it has been shown to help reduce body mass.
In obese patients, the body weight and body fat significantly decreased after 2 weeks of sauna therapy without increase of plasma ghrelin concentrations. On the basis of these data, sauna therapy may be a promising therapy for patients with lifestyle-related diseases. 4
Cellulite reduction is another benefit of consistent near infrared sauna use. 5
Longevity and Wellness
Cardiovascular improvement is yet another wonderful benefit of near infrared sauna.
Increased frequency of sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac death, fatal coronary heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease and all cause mortality. 6 The risk of heart failure decreased by
The regular use of saunas has been found in various studies to be protective of sudden cardiac death. Therefore, “sauna bathing is generally safe for most healthy people and even among patients with stable CVD, if used sensibly and with caution.” 7
Furthermore, these same studies show “reduced arterial stiffness, decreases in inflammation and oxidative stress, stabilization of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles and other [cardiovascular disease] risk markers, and lowering of systemic blood pressure.”
Brain Health
Besides the reduction of heart health problems, regular use of sauna reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease according to several studies. Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are two of top health concerns in the United States, next to cancer and diabetes.
A Finnish Study concluded that “moderate to high frequency of sauna bathing was associated with lowered risks of dementia and Alzheimer's disease” in their male population. 8,9
Traumatic Brain Injury, including blast TBI, and sports injuries has been successfuly treated with red light therapy. NIR has been used with success on Veterans of the Gulf War to reduce PTSD, improve sleep, and verbal memory. Although studies are ongoing, the use of near infrared light looks promising for cognitive functioning. 10
For the rest of us, regular exposure to near infrared sauna can enhance your ability to process information, focus, and remember.
Stress Reduction and Improved Cortisol Levels
Let's face it, most of us are stressed these days; it's hard to avoid stress! I used to think that it would be impossible to avoid the stress that caused high cortisol. Then I realized managing inevitable stress is possible with a bit of planning. Supplementing with magnesium, getting the right amount of sleep, and taking time to relax can help bring down those high cortisol levels.
My relaxation ritual consists of a leisurely walk, skin brushing, light reading in the sauna, followed by a cold shower and then hydrating my skin with magnesium body butter. Performing this routine just before bed improves my sleep. (Which I document using multiple sleep trackers!)
What are infrared saunas?
Regular saunas use heat from a fire, hot rocks, or other materials to raise the temperature inside a small room, often made of wood. Sweating in a regular sauna is thought to bring benefits due to the release of toxins.
Infrared saunas, on the other hand, use heat and light to accomplish the same type of detoxification. The light from an infrared sauna penetrates the skin without heating the air inside the sauna chamber. Lower temperatures mean that a person who is not heat-tolerant can reap the benefits of saunas.
Infrared saunas are more effective than heat saunas in that they help the body perspire at about 80% water and 20% waste and toxins, where traditional saunas are approximately 97% water and 3% waste and toxins.
What's the difference between far infrared and near infrared?
The wavelength of the light is what differentiates between far and near infrared. Near-infrared has wavelengths closer to the red wavelength, which contains more energy. Some experts say near-infrared wavelengths penetrate up to 4 inches into the body. In addition, near-infrared is said to stimulate the mitochondria so that they release nitric oxide and boost ATP production which has a healing effect on cells.
The majority of infrared saunas are “far” infrared which is a lower-energy infrared wavelength. Far infrared sauna light heats the body which causes detox by causing the human body to perspire. When the body produces sweat, it removes harmful elements out of the body's fat stores rather quickly. However, because far-infrared uses low-energy wavelengths some experts say it provides minimal health benefits.
Some experts suggest that far-infrared saunas also give off electromagnetic fields (EMFs) which do more harm than good.
Near Infrared Sauna
A “near” infrared sauna uses light within the same spectrum as sunlight. Almost 50% of the energy from the sun is in the near infrared spectrum. Because our bodies use this particular type of energy to produce vitamin D, it is crucial for maintaining health. Near-infrared provides relief for many issues due to its effective penetration of the body tissue.
The near-infrared sauna uses light to activate a biological process in which healing takes place. When used correctly, infrared saunas are considered one of the safest and most effortless ways to detoxify the body of harmful toxins.
Near-infrared is believed to penetrate the skin and reach deep inside the body to produce a heat that promotes healing. Don't worry, near-infrared are comfortable to use and are easy and safe to use.
Full spectrum infrared saunas offer near, mid and far infrared.
My Sauna Experience
When I originally wrote this article in 2019, I didn't have my own sauna. I would purchase visits from a local health practitioner to use their infrared sauna. That worked, but it wasn't ideal. First of all, driving to the sauna, in the unfamiliar environment, undressing, then redressing on with sweat on my skin was not relaxing.
Secreted toxins can be reabsorbed, so it was not ideal to leave the sweat on my skin during that drive home. Not to mention, I hated getting back into my car with sweaty skin because I didn't want my car to smell like sweat! Then I'd have to drive back home, take off my clothes and shower. All of this wasn't relaxing and it took up more time, which was a commodity I stress over not having enough of anyhow.
After doing a lot of research, I decided on a portable infrared sauna called The Lumanati, which comes with
- Adjustable Sauna Panel
- Grounding Mat
- Portable Enclosure
- Ergonomic Stool
EMF Protection
Later I upgraded my unit by adding an EMF Blocking layer. Woven from silver and concealed between two layers of organic cotton, the shield blocks out cell signals, Wi-Fi, and other electromagnetic fields. The EMF blocking layer is:
- 35% silver, 65% GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Hypoallergenic
- Plastic and polyester free
- Machine washable
- Includes matching shielding curtain and 3-foot grounding cable
Putting the sauna together was a breeze. In fact, I put it together all by myself! Okay, well our corgi, Crumpet gave me lots of emotional support! (On a side note, my cats and dog all love to come into the sauna with or without me. I guess they know…)
Final Notes on the benefits of near infrared sauna
Detoxifying through the skin also eliminates complications that often come with toxins being stirred up internally in your system (and generally causes unwanted symptoms), by giving toxins an easy exit through your pores. More pleasant than a internal cleansing, that's for sure.
More research needs to be done for conclusive evidence of the benefits of infrared sauna treatment. Although, many experts do recommend using infrared saunas for the elimination of various toxins, including medications, heavy metals, alcohol, nicotine, and other carcinogens in the bloodstream
Some fitness centers, spas, or saunas may provide the use of an infrared sauna or you could consider purchasing one for your home. Look for a sauna that are designed to provide the lowest possible EMF and ELF exposure.
Ready to make near infrared sauna bathing part of your wellness routine? In the beginning, try infrared therapy for about 10-15 minutes per day, working your way up to 30 minute sessions. Make sure to hydrate throughout the day with lots of mineral water.
If you have heart problems, high blood pressure, take medication, have sensitive skin, or have any other health condition, it's best to talk to your health care provider before starting using infrared therapy.
Sources
1- Wunsch, Alexander, and Karsten Matuschka. “A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase.” Photomedicine and laser surgery vol. 32,2 (2014): 93-100. doi:10.1089/pho.2013.3616
2 – Leppäluoto, J et al. “Endocrine effects of repeated sauna bathing.” Acta physiologica Scandinavica vol. 128,3 (1986): 467-70. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.1986.tb08000.x
3 – Gale, George D et al. “Infrared therapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial.” Pain research & management vol. 11,3 (2006): 193-6. doi:10.1155/2006/876920
4 – Biro, Sadatoshi et al. “Clinical implications of thermal therapy in lifestyle-related diseases.” Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) vol. 228,10 (2003): 1245-9. doi:10.1177/153537020322801023
5 – Alster, Tina S, and Elizabeth L Tanzi. “Cellulite treatment using a novel combination radiofrequency, infrared light, and mechanical tissue manipulation device.” Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology vol. 7,2 (2005): 81-5. doi:10.1080/14764170500190242
6 – Laukkanen, Tanjaniina et al. “Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events.” JAMA internal medicine vol. 175,4 (2015): 542-8. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187
7 – Laukkanen, Jari A, and Setor K Kunutsor. “Is sauna bathing protective of sudden cardiac death? A review of the evidence.” Progress in cardiovascular diseases vol. 62,3 (2019): 288-293. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2019.05.001
8 – Laukkanen, Tanjaniina et al. “Sauna bathing is inversely associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease in middle-aged Finnish men.” Age and ageing vol. 46,2 (2017): 245-249. doi:10.1093/ageing/afw212
9 – Hamblin, Michael R. “Photobiomodulation for Alzheimer's Disease: Has the Light Dawned?.” Photonics vol. 6,3 (2019): 77. doi:10.3390/photonics6030077
10- Naeser, Margaret A et al. “Transcranial, Red/Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Therapy to Improve Cognition in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury.” Photomedicine and laser surgery vol. 34,12 (2016): 610-626. doi:10.1089/pho.2015.4037
RESOURCES FOR PODCAST EPISODE
- Magnesium Body Butter Video
- Used for Mold Detox: FloraMyces and G.I. Detox – my doctor had me build up from one capsule to 4 because taking a full dose from the start might cause unbearable detox symptoms
Transcripts for Podcast
health benefits of infrared sauna from my perspective
Rebecca: Welcome to a healthy bite. You're one nibble closer to a more satisfying way of life. A healthier you and bite sized bits of healthy motivation. Now let's dig in on the dish with Rebecca Huff.
[00:00:16] Welcome back to a healthy bite! Today, I'm going solo. I wanted to share with you a little bit about my experience with the benefits of near infrared sauna, why I purchased one for my home, and what my experience has been so far in using it for the last six months or so. I actually have a blog post that was written a while back that I have since updated.
[00:00:46] So if you want to read more about this, or if you're a visual person, you can go to thatorganicmom.com/infrared-sauna and read all about it. I do have affiliate links in there since I purchased my sauna and I love it, I signed up as an affiliate. So those are affiliate links, but you can also use my coupon code to receive a discount.
[00:01:10] So go ahead and go check out that blog post, but stick around because I want to share with you all of the reasons why I purchased the infrared sauna and what it has done so far, what the benefits have been for me now, I've moved around a lot in my life and there's no denying that sunny days brighten my mood.
[00:01:32] I always feel better when I'm enjoying more time in the sun and the area where I live right now. I don't get quite as much sun as I did when I lived in Florida. So when I lived in Florida, I always had good vitamin D levels. I didn't experience, depression and I definitely didn't experience seasonal, blues
[00:01:55] like I do sometimes living here in Tennessee, the sun's rays regulate our sleeping patterns and it supports physiological processes that help our body to just function better. So I understand a lot of people have become more and more afraid of the sun and we tend to sometimes forget that the sun also has
[00:02:19] really a powerful healing benefits when used appropriately. One of the best ways to reap the benefits of sunlight without necessarily, uh, overexposure or the risk of skin cancer is by using a near infrared sauna.
[00:02:37]Now this isn't the main reason why I wanted an infrared sauna. And I'll get into that a little bit more as I go along and share my story, but this is definitely a bonus side benefit in that is; if you do experience seasonal affective disorder, you could possibly benefit from 15 to 20 minutes of daily.
[00:03:00] infrared light therapy. This is proven by research, along with a lot of other benefits of infrared sauna. But this podcast is about my experience as a, user of an infrared sauna. So this, you can consider this like a user reported benefit. So some of the benefits that I was hoping for is one, I was hoping to boost my immune system during.
[00:03:27] Of course, all of this that's been going on since 2020. I definitely want to have a strong immune system, but that's been my goal for several decades. I have had recurrences of a reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, which comes from having mono as a child. Some people deal with it and they never have reactivated EBV.
[00:03:50] And some people struggle with it a lot ,like myself. And so. I'm always looking for ways to keep my immune system really strong. In addition, another benefit of infrared sauna is that it improves your overall wellbeing. It detoxifies the body. It can help with weight loss and increase your body's metabolism.
[00:04:12] It has been shown to lower chronic pain and ease joint stiffness as well as to help your body to produce more collagen. And it can also help to reduce stress and some of the side effects of diabetes. So there's a lot we could talk about, but I want to try to stick as closely as I can to the benefits that I have experienced.
[00:04:37] So, I have had mold exposure before, black mold. I've had tests done very, very detailed tests that show. Exactly which types of mold that I've been exposed to and what levels. And so, after I received these results. This was the second time that I had needed to go through the detox of mold, wasn't sure exactly where I was exposed to mold, but it showed up in my lab results.
[00:05:07]And so when I was talking to my doctor, I asked her to just because she had given me a protocol and it was Floramyces, I was taking that during the day.
[00:05:20] And then later on, I would take some charcoal and some clay powder. Yeah. Different kinds of things. I'll list the protocol in the blog post, what I was using, but I asked my doctor in addition to these things, what else can I do to accelerate the process of detoxing mold? And her response was that I could
[00:05:46]spend some time on a rebounder every day, making sure that I move my lymphatic system.
[00:05:52] So part of my protocol included jumping on a rebounder every single day. I actually keep it near my desk. So when I get up from my desk, I can walk over and, you know, spend five, six minutes on it and then move on with my day. And if I won't buy it again, I'll do that. So that is one component of my protocol.
[00:06:13]The other thing that she mentioned was using an infrared sauna, and this is something that I have done before and that I really liked, I used it when I originally had a mold test come back positive and I had used it for different things. One of the things that I've found that it relieves for me right away is an ocular migraine.
[00:06:36] So if you've never experienced an ocular migraine, let me just tell you a little bit about kind of what that is.
[00:06:44]An ocular migraine is kind of like a visual disturbance. I can't really speak for other people, but for myself when this happens, it's pretty short-lived and apparently it's harmless, but it's kind of annoying. So what happens is I start to see, kind of like bright rainbow light with a blurry spot in the middle.
[00:07:06] So it's blocking my vision, and it's almost like when you're looking in a fire and you see the heat waves, it's kind of like that, but then it has like these little rainbow sparkles around. It's in a way kind of pretty, and it doesn't, like I said, it doesn't hurt, but it's just these kind of a flashing shimmering, zig-zaggy lights and stars.
[00:07:28] It's super weird and almost psychedelic when you're looking at, if it happens when I'm driving, I'm going to have to pull over. If it happens when I'm trying to read, I'm going to have to put the book down. I definitely can't use my computer when I get an ocular migraine. And like I said, it doesn't really hurt, but it's just kind of annoying and I've had this on and off just rarely.
[00:07:51] It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, I just have to kind of sit and wait for that to go away. So, after I got my infrared sauna, I had told my daughter that, you know, uh, infrared sauna has all these healing properties and it can help your body to heal and get better faster. Well, I had, this ocular migraine and she's like, why don't you go sit in your sauna?
[00:08:14] And I was just kind of caught off guard and I, I don't think it works that way, honey. And she said, well, you said it heals your body and it helps, and so why don't you try? This is from my 12 year old. So I'm like, what can it hurt? And I went up and I sat in my sauna. The migraine had just come on maybe five minutes before I went and got in the sauna.
[00:08:38] And within five minutes it had passed completely and I thought, well, that could be just a fluke. Normally they last about 20, 30, 35 minutes. Something like that. I've never had one that lasted more than 40 minutes or so. Again, just very frustrating if you're trying to get things done and you suddenly can't see what you're looking at for this vision disturbance.
[00:09:01] So a few weeks, almost a month had passed and I had another ocular migraine, and I thought, okay, I'm going to test this theory. So I went up and sat in my sauna again and sure enough, within five minutes it was gone. Now, I will say here as a caveat, I'm not looking into the infrared light. I actually closed my eyes.
[00:09:23] I just sat in there, with the lights fully on. Just relaxing. And I know it definitely could be that I was just relaxing and just resting that it made it go away. But I've done this three times since that first time and every time it made the ocular migraine go away. So that was kind of cool. That was one really neat thing that I saw right away with this near infrared sauna that I'm using.
[00:09:51]But the main reason, again, like I said, that I got my own sauna at home was to try to sweat out, to detox, from this mold toxicity that I had.
[00:10:05] After all the most natural way to release toxins from human tissue is by sweating. The nice side benefits of a sauna session includes a skin rejuvenation by way of a boost in your collagen and elastin. research shows that regular use of infrared lights stimulates production of both elastin and collagen in your body.
[00:10:30]And I noticed that after I started using my infrared sauna, that my skin actually did look better. Now, if you know me you'll know that I have experienced rosacea, over the last decade or so. And I've done a lot of different protocols trying to just deal with my rosacea and I have definitely noticed a significant improvement in the complexion of my cheeks, which is where I usually experience rosacea.
[00:11:01] And I did read up on a few studies. They have measured skin roughness and collagen density, before and after, the participants of this research, spent thirty sessions in a infrared sauna twice per week. So for a total of 30 sessions, and they also noticed a significant improvement in skin complexion and feeling, and it helps to tighten the skin and helps you to have less blemishes as well.
[00:11:35]Doctors sometimes recommend infrared sauna for psoriasis because the deep penetration of the red light therapy into the tissue helps to improve circulation, it boosts immune function, or at least as toxins.
[00:11:50] And it helps the overall complexion to look better. I think the fact that my skin did start to look and feel better was not just because of the collagen and elastin, but also because
[00:12:04] I don't tend to sweat a lot. And so I think it's really healthy to sweat at least a little bit every day. And if you've read my blog posts about how I haven't used deodorant in a couple of decades, you'll know that's another piece of the puzzle is that
[00:12:21] if you don't sweat, you're not releasing those toxins as well. And so for me to be able to sweat, it takes a lot. And so I noticed that in my sauna, the first few times I got in it, I would sit in for maybe 10, 15 minutes, I would think, okay, I'm done, nothing's happening. I didn't sweat. And so I started taking a book in with me to read.
[00:12:46] And after a while, There's just like a moment. Whenever a switch gets flipped and suddenly you're sweating and. For me that came at around 20 to 25 minutes. And then all of a sudden it's like a faucet came on and I'm sweating profusely, which was great because like I said, I haven't detoxed through sweat enough over the years.
[00:13:11] Even when I exercise, I don't sweat, like a lot of people I would see at the gym would be dripping with sweat or my husband and I work in the yard and he would just be sweating and I mean, I feel like I would be working out just as hard as other people. I just didn't seem to sweat as much. But now that I've been using the infrared sauna, it has definitely increased my ability to sweat.
[00:13:37] I know that sounds so crazy. And maybe not like something you would want to do, but it really is a problem. If you can't sweat.
[00:13:43] Using an infrared sauna also helps to increase circulation in the tissue and it improves muscle recovery. Athletes use heat therapy basically as a go-to for muscle pain, but this isn't the only benefit when you're using red light therapy, because it also helps to stimulate the release of HGH, human growth hormones.
[00:14:06] Which help athletes to recover faster and come back stronger. Even if you're not an athlete, you definitely want to stimulate the release of human growth hormones, because that helps you to recover and feel better, faster. And it keeps you feeling and looking younger.
[00:14:26]Speaking of athletes. This episode is sponsored by Honeybadger, not the most fearless animal on the planet. The supplement company. The folks at Honeybadger provide clean natural supplements that are free of sugar, artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
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[00:15:34]Being in the infrared sauna feels so relaxing, even though your heart rate really does increase. It's good though, because while it doesn't replace exercise, it has been shown to help reduce body mass. There was, a research in obese patients where the body weight and body fat significantly decreased after two weeks of sauna therapy.
[00:15:57] And I've referenced this research in my blog post. So you can go and check that out. Cellulite reduction is another benefit of consistent near infrared sauna use. So if you paired that with say a FasciaBlaster, you could significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite, especially on your legs. Now, cardiovascular improvement is a really great benefit of near infrared sauna.
[00:16:24]And increased frequency of using a sauna is actually associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac death, fatal coronary, heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease, and all cause mortality.
[00:16:41] These same studies actually showed reduced arterial stiffness, decreases in inflammation and oxidative stress and stabilization of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles and other cardiovascular disease risk markers. And lowering of systemic blood pressure
[00:17:02]Besides the risk reduction of heart health problems, regular use can also reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which are two of the top health concerns in the United States.
[00:17:15] Right next to cancer and diabetes. This has been proven in several studies and a Finnish study actually concluded that moderate to high frequency sauna bathing was associated with lowered risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in their male population. I'm not sure why they didn't study women as well, but there it is.
[00:17:38]Another research I found showed that TBI, traumatic brain injury and other types of sports injuries have been successfully treated with red light therapy. Near infrared has also been used with success on veterans of the Gulf war to reduce PTSD, improve sleep, and also verbal memory.
[00:18:01] Although they're still doing these studies and the research is ongoing. The use of near infrared light does look promising for cognitive functioning.
[00:18:11]All of that, to say that regular exposure to near infrared sauna can enhance your ability to process information and enhance your ability to focus and concentrate and remember things, which is something that we can all benefit from as we start to age.
[00:18:29] Now, I'm always doing a lot of different things at the same time, but I can definitely say, and I have lab results to show that my cortisol levels have come down since I started using an infrared sauna. So, a very good stress reduction technique that a lot of people use is an infrared sauna.
[00:18:50]And you can manage that inevitable type of stress because truly who can avoid all the stress I've tried, it's completely impossible. But with a little bit of planning, we can manage that inevitable stress and we can learn to relax and bring down those high cortisol levels, which of course we know is one of the causes
[00:19:15] of excess fat around the middle, which also decreases your lifespan.
[00:19:21] So getting those cortisol levels down or reducing weight, it's actually really good. Not just because stress sucks and feels bad, but also because having too much stress and not coping with or managing your stress well, Can lead to a shorter life span and we're all we want to live quality longer lives.
[00:19:42] Right? So my relaxation ritual consists of kind of a walk with crumpet, my daughter's corgi and then some skin brushing just to stimulate the lymphatic flow, and then I do some light reading in the sauna. Sitting in the sauna. I'm not going to be reading some non-fiction, self-help book, or somehow to learn how to do this, become a millionaire, whatever kind of thing.
[00:20:07] I'm not reading that stuff in the sauna. I'm reading something that's light and relaxing. Because I want to really get into it. So that's usually some historical fiction from me because I love historical fiction. And so once I really get into a book, I can stay in my sauna longer because I'm distracted.
[00:20:26]Not that it's super uncomfortable, but of course it is hot. And I think I started to say this earlier that I have been sitting consistently in my sauna. I used to not tolerate heat so well in my early forties. And since I started sitting in the sauna more consistently, my heat tolerance has definitely gotten a lot better.
[00:20:49] And I can honestly say that performing the routine that I just described of the walk, skin brushing, light reading, followed by cold shower. And then right before I finish that routine I will hydrate my skin with magnesium body butter, which I make. You can find that video on YouTube. If you want to make your own magnesium body butter, it's
[00:21:12] pretty simple , anyone can do it really. but performing this routine just before I go to bed, has an, it has enhanced and improved my sleep, which I document using several sleep trackers. If you've been around thatorganicmom for awhile, you've read some of my past posts about sleep and you've heard me bragging about how good I sleep because that's one of the things I do really well is I can sleep.
[00:21:38] I, do a great job at sleeping. But this year for my birthday, my daughters bought me an Oura ring. I've always wanted one, but three of my daughters went together and they purchased me one for my birthday this year. And I have been using it to track my sleep as well.
[00:21:57] And I can see a pattern when I am using my infrared sauna, that my sleep gets up too, I'll have a sleep score of 98% efficiency, and that does take a lot of dedication. So when I brag about sleeping, well, I feel like I've earned the right to brag about my sleep.
[00:22:20]It's unfortunate that so many people have to sacrifice time sleeping for work or getting other things done. And I know there are some cases where people just can't get eight hours of sleep. My husband is one of those people, he works long hours and does a lot, of driving and that makes it harder for him to get a full eight hours of sleep.
[00:22:43] And I'm thankful for everything that he does to make it possible for me to sleep better. So I know that getting a good night's sleep is a privilege. But at the same time, I do work very hard to get a good night's sleep. I stopped doing whatever I'm doing and I go to bed at the same time every night, so that I can wake up at the same time every morning, because I know that my body rhythm
[00:23:09] will suffer and kind of get out of alignment if I spend a couple more than one night or so staying up past my normal bedtime, but recently we took a little trip at night to go see a moonbow in Corbin, Kentucky, and I was up till well past midnight. But the next day I got right back on track because this is kind of the exception, not the regular routine
[00:23:36] for me. It's very rare for me to not go to bed and get up at the same time every day, but I don't want to get too far off track. Just wanted to say that sleeping and the sauna and just following that relaxation ritual, has taken that sleep score, which I used to get really good, usually around 89 or 90.
[00:23:56] And I thought that was great, but now I'm really in that optimal range, usually tracking around 97 or 98% sleep efficiency. Now that I'm using my infrared sauna.
[00:24:08]Now, if you're wondering if regular saunas that use heat from fire, like where you pour water over hot rocks or something like that. If you're wondering if that is the same as sweating in an infrared sauna,
[00:24:22] I'd like to point out a couple of different studies where they have shown that infrared saunas are actually more effective than the heat type of saunas. And an infrared sauna, the body perspires at about 80% water and 20% waste and toxins; whereas the traditional heat type of sauna, it's approximately 97% water and only 3% waste and toxins.
[00:24:49] So infrared sauna actually penetrates deeper into the human body tissue than heat from a heating element. So that's part of the big difference between a traditional type sauna and a infrared sauna.
[00:25:07]So all that being said again, I wanted to mention that I do have an article that I wrote a while back. It's thatorganicmom.com/infrared-sauna and I've updated that blog post, and I've also shared more of my sauna experience in that post.
[00:25:29] Like I said, in the post, when I shared my experience, I did not have my own sauna. When I originally wrote this, I would actually purchase sauna visits from my local health practitioner the infrared sauna in this health office, and that worked, but it wasn't ideal for me because
[00:25:47] first of all, I had to drive to the sauna, be in an unfamiliar environment, chit-chat with the person checking me in, undress and then sit in the sauna and then get dressed again with sweat still on my skin, which really wasn't that relaxing. But it did it, I feel like there were benefits to it, but it wasn't ideal.
[00:26:09]Secreted toxins actually can be reabsorbed into your skin. So like I said, it wasn't ideal to leave the sweat on my skin during the drive home and I also just would prefer to get out of the sauna and just take a cold shower because hot and cold, that is a longevity tip that I will be sharing with you in next week's podcast. So make sure you subscribe , whether it's on iTunes, or Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts at and make sure you subscribe, so you can listen to you next week's episode, which is going to be all about longevity tips.
[00:26:48] And I'm talking to the girls from the habit society, and that's a really fun episode. So make sure you are subscribed and you don't miss out on that. But after doing some more research, like I said, I decided on a portable infrared sauna. First , we move a lot.
[00:27:06]
[00:27:06] Second . I really liked the look of the Luminati. It was, um, a canvas portable infrared sauna, and I wanted something that I didn't have to commit to putting it in a particular spot. So this worked out really great for me. And I actually put the thing together all by myself. Well, Crumpet, my corgi did give me moral support, but anyhow, it's pretty simple.
[00:27:33] Basically a wooden frame with canvas and then it has a grounding mat and an adjustable sauna panel with four infrared lights. Now, if you want to see this, you can go to my YouTube channel and watch this video there because I'm going to be showing actual pictures of my sauna, some, a little footage of me putting together the sauna, but anyhow, the Luminati also comes with this ergonomic
[00:28:07] stool a really cute little wooden stool, which honestly, I don't even really use. I lowered the lamps on my sauna down almost a floor level so that I can sit on the floor because I sit on the floor a lot anyways, and to me that was more comfortable than sitting on a stool. So I just sit in the sauna on the floor,
[00:28:29] sometimes I'll prop my book up on the stool and I just rotate around so that the lamps can, you know, hit every side of my body. But that's basically how I do it. And then the Luminati can actually be upgraded with EMF protection. There's an EMF blocking layer. Blocks out any kind of like cell phone signals, wifi, or other electromagnetic fields it's made of GOTS certified organic cotton and 35% silver.
[00:29:06] And it's hypoallergenic, plastic and polyester free. It's machine washable and it includes a like matching shielding curtain that goes across the front of the sauna, and then a three-foot grounding cable. So not only are you sitting in the sauna receiving the benefits of infrared light, but also you are grounding.
[00:29:30] And if you haven't read or heard of grounding or earthing, it is a fascinating topic. I'm not going to get into it here. I do have a blog post on it, so I will link that in the show notes. So if you're listening, you can go again and check that out at thatorganicmom.com/infrared-sauna., and read more about Earthing and more about the sauna and see pictures of how I put this together and all of that.
[00:30:01] Some fitness centers, spas or saunas may provide the use of an infrared sauna, or you could consider purchasing one for your home. Like I said, I used a sauna space, portable sauna. It's designed to provide the lowest possible EMF and ELF exposure and it just looks beautiful.
[00:30:21] I really enjoy my sauna.
[00:30:23]You can get a discount, like I said, at the beginning of this episode, a 5% discount, using the link that I have shared in the blog post.
[00:30:33] For me, it was a purchase that was definitely worth the investment. As I feel it has certainly improved my health. It has improved my body's ability to detox ,mold, and it has helped to lower my stress and cortisol levels, helped me to increase my already really decent sleep, and it has improved my rosacea
[00:30:59]and it just makes me feel happy. Of course, more research is being done and more needs to be done for truly conclusive evidence of all of the benefits
[00:31:09] of infrared sauna treatment. Although many experts definitely recommend using infrared sauna for the elimination of a variety of different toxins, including some medications, heavy metals, alcohol, and nicotine, and other carcinogens in the bloodstream. By the way, you can actually even test your blood for glyphosate.
[00:31:32] And it is also a good way to detox glyphosate along with pomegranate. Pomegranate also is really good for detoxing glyphosate. So that being said,
[00:31:44] who can benefit from an infrared sauna? It's important before you start to use an infrared sauna that you talk to your healthcare provider and make sure that everything is good to go. If you have heart problems, high blood pressure, you take medication, you have sensitive skin, or another kind of health condition. It's best to just check with your healthcare provider before you start using an infrared therapy.
[00:32:09] And like I said, You know, maybe if you're not sure if you would like it, a good thing to do is to do a quick search in your area to see if you can purchase visits, here in Knoxville. Like I said, I used bask infrared sauna.
[00:32:25] So that's pretty much it for my experience. I'm very thankful that I was able to purchase one for my home and.
[00:32:32] I hope that you will consider looking into the benefits of infrared sauna, whether you, like I said, get a package ofvisits to an infrared sauna near you, or maybe find one at a local gym or somewhere where you can go or maybe ask around, you never know, one of your friends might actually have a sauna that they wouldn't mind.
[00:32:54] If you came to sit in, my mom comes to visit my sauna sometimes when she's here and my adult children as well. It's nice to have something that can contribute to the health and longevity of your other family members. So if you have any questions about today's episode, you can reach me at [email protected]
[00:33:14]or you can join the healthologists community.
[00:33:18]If you're ready to improve your health and wellness, so you can live a long and fulfilling life. If you're ready to be inspired to put healthy food on your table every night, or you'd like to improve your sleep hygiene and just get better sleep, reduce the symptoms of chronic inflammation and get back to living your life again,
[00:33:37]we created the healthologists community to motivate, inspire, and energize you along your path to wellness. It will allow you to connect with others who have similar goals, and it will allow you to share your unique experiences with others, which can open the door to lifelong friendships and connection with people who are seeking positive, supportive interaction, just like you, new resources are added to the community on a weekly basis, including tutorials, meal plans, recipes, pep talks, exclusive videos, and lots more.
[00:34:10] So make sure you check it out. Go to thatorganicmom.com/healthologist-community-membership. We would love to see you there.
[00:34:21] I encourage you to start with the free membership there, and then you can always upgrade to the full membership later, if you choose. But we do have a free membership level and all of my eBooks are included there, all of my free guides are there.
[00:34:37]The free membership includes total access to the sleep space, you can ask questions of experts, who will also share the best and latest tips and advice on how to get a good night's sleep. So that's it for today. Thanks again for joining me on healthy bite..
[00:34:54] Thanks for listening, please rate and review so other people can learn about this podcast. Find out more about sleep hygiene, eating healthy, tasty recipes, zero waste lifestyle, and lots more on thatorganicmom.com. Help us spread the word. Be blessed and stay healthy.
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