New Year's Greetings!

I hope everyone had a restful and healthy holiday season.

With all kinds of viruses flying around and temperatures at chilly-penguin levels, I thought a newsletter on the benefits of saunas would be welcome.

Here, we'll discuss the proven health benefits of saunas, the differences between the types (dry heat, infrared, etc.), and some tips on how to sauna safely and choose the best kind for your home or personal use, including low-EMF varieties.

Stay cozy and blessings to all!

-Milly

P.S. If you're in need of some extra immune support, check out the following newsletters:



• Should You Take That Antibiotic? Questions to Ask Your Doctor
• The Most Overlooked Way to Support Immune Health: Improve Indoor Air Quality
• Tips for Supporting Your Kid's Innate Immune Intelligence
• 3 Potent Herbal Expectorants To Support Healthy Lungs

The Proven Health Benefits of Saunas

Heat therapy is one of the most ancient traditional healing practices used across cultures.

In Scandinavia, sauna therapy (dry heat or dry heat with steam) has helped people get through brutal winters for generations, and studies have confirmed it offers several impressive health benefits.

Here are a few of the proven benefits of sauna therapy (infrared and traditional).[1-5]

• Promotes cardiovascular conditioning
• Helps with muscle soreness and exercise recovery
• Promotes healthy sleep and relaxation
• Great for your skin
• Supports mental/emotional well-being
• Promotes serious detox through the sweat glands
• Burns calories
• Reduces stress
• Feels GREAT
• Helps support immunity
• Helps preserve lean muscle mass
• May help support cognitive function
• Promotes overall well-being
• Anecdotal evidence also suggests it may even help reduce Parkinson's symptoms in some people, when combined with medication and other lifestyle practices

Research has also shown that regular sauna therapy can reduce cardiovascular-related and all-cause mortality.

In other words, saunas can potentially help you live longer.

There are some exceptions. Saunas may be contraindicated/provide more risk than benefit for people with certain heart conditions, pregnant women, children, babies, people taking certain medications, and those prone to heat stroke, claustrophobia, or fainting.

If you're unsure if sauna therapy is right for you, check with your doctor or healthcare provider.

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31126560/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29849692/
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556521002916
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1011134416311691
5. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/health-news/using-a-sauna-eased-my-parkinson-s-pain-and-now-i-sleep-all-night/ar-AA1zhjB4
6. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2130724

Different Types of Saunas

Saunas generally fall into three categories:

#1: Far Infrared Saunas

By far (no pun intended) the most popular in health-conscious circles, far-infrared saunas radiate a specific type of electrical heat and light that penetrates deeply into tissues with no humidity.

Advocates believe this type of heat offers greater benefits than other saunas, and some research supports this claim.

However, history suggests that traditional dry heat saunas offer comparable benefits for most people.

Pros:

• May provide more health benefits than traditional dry or steam saunas
• May be more comfortable to use due to less air pressure and gentler heat
• Widely available for home use and may be found in select clinics, spas, and health clubs

Cons:

• Can be more costly than traditional saunas
• Require electricity
• May emit more EMFs (there are low EMF far infrared saunas, which we'll discuss in the next section)

#2: Traditional Dry Heat Saunas

These are the original dry heat saunas used in Scandinavia and other chilly parts of the world.

They're heated using a woodstove, a gas stove, or electric heat, and may or may not incorporate steam, such as by adding water to hot rocks.

Pros:

• The most studied type of sauna is backed by centuries of traditional use
• Can be heated with wood, propane, or electricity
• Widely available in health clubs, spas, and clinics
• Can be less expensive than far infrared, depending on the brand and style
• They can be purchased in kits, premade models, or even DIYed

Cons:

• May not provide the same level of benefits as far infrared, though this is debatable
• The heat can feel more intense than a far infrared sauna
• Woodstove varieties take longer to heat up and offer less temperature control

#3: Steam Saunas

Also known as steam rooms, these are ultra-hot and humid saunas that use heat and steam to promote sweating and other health benefits.

Pros:

• Great for the skin
• Widely available in health clubs
• Can be installed in showers or as stand-alone at-home units
• May be more affordable than other types of saunas, depending on the brand and style

Cons:

• They are very humid, which may make some people uncomfortable or claustrophobic
• The humidity can make them prohibitive for home use, unless in a well-ventilated area
• They may not provide the same benefits as infrared saunas
• A dedicated steam room requires electricity, though you can add a steam feature to a dry sauna heated with wood by adding water to hot rocks

Ultimately, all saunas provide impressive health benefits, so in the end, it's a matter of personal preference and your health goals.

I'm partial to the far infrared saunas, but would not turn my nose up at a traditional dry sauna either...especially if it was a cedar wood-fired sauna in my own backyard!