09/27/2019
There is no actual proof that sweating does anything for detoxification. The body is mainly detoxified through the kidneys and liver. There is some conjecture that the heat of the sauna can increase blood flow to the liver and kidneys, therefore increasing their detoxifying ability. Even in that case, however, the detoxification is still done in the liver and kidneys and not through the act of sweating.
No sauna, infrared or traditional, will do anything for weight loss. The increased calorie burn is negligable, and any actual weight lost is water weight, which will come right back as soon as you rehydrate. Failure to do so can lead to dangerous, and in extreme cases even deadly, dehydration.
While true saunas do offer some health benefits (namely for the circulatory and respiratory systems, as well as a clearing of the skin and some possible links to better mental health beyond just the obvious relaxation aspects, according to a Finnish study that linked frequent sauna bathing to lower risk of dementia), these can only be attributed to actual saunas, not infrared enclosures. They also require often, frequent use. The use of sauna bathing for any sort of health benefit is more of a lifestyle choice than a quick fix, and is very often only one component of a variety of healthy lifestyle choices.
Infrared enclosures will never provide the same environment as a true, traditional, Scandinavian style sauna, and as such can not claim any of the potential health benefits. As noted above, many of the so called "benefits" of an infrared enclosure are at best wildly over blown, and at worst out right lies. For actual sauna health benefits, stick to a traditional sauna, and for things like weight loss stick to diet and exercise.
Sweating is the new spinning, at least that's what it seems from Austin's onslaught of saunas over the past 12 months. The latest to warm up Austinites is Perspire, a ...
