Saunas have accompanied humanity for hundreds of years and have become synonymous with relaxation and regeneration. In Finland, where saunas are part of daily life, up to 99% of the population use them at least once a week. Saunas are nothing new here either – you will meet regular visitors who regularly meet in saunas in every wellness oasis.
1. Stronger heart and blood vessels
The benefits of a hot sauna are associated with sweating in it. As the temperature in the sauna rises, the body’s natural reactions kick in to cool it down. This produces sweat, but also greatly increases the heart rate. Studies show that regular sauna visits can improve heart health and blood circulation in the long term. Not only does your heart beat faster, pumping more blood, but the heat in the sauna encourages the blood vessels to open, making it easier for blood to flow.
2. Leaching of harmful substances
Sweating cleans the body, but in everyday life it is perceived rather negatively. The sauna provides a great space for regularly sweating out all the toxins from the body. A Canadian clinical study from 2012 showed that toxic substances such as cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury, which are usually found in some amount in our body, are excreted in sweat during sauna use. These substances have no business in the body, so it is necessary to get rid of them regularly.
3. Increasing resistance to diseases and colds
One of the main benefits of saunas is strengthening the immune system and improving thermoregulation. As the temperature rises in the sauna, your body reacts in many ways. Your heart rate quickens and you begin to sweat, but there is also a less noticeable process. Your body starts producing white blood cells. These cells are the basis of a properly functioning immune system and protect you from disease. Regular sauna use also helps better thermoregulation, so changes in temperature won’t surprise the body as much, you’ll sweat less in the summer and you’ll be less prone to colds in the winter.
4. Mental well-being
“When a person sweats and then cools down, the same substances are created in the body as after a long bike ride or perhaps during an orgasm. Just think of people who get into a pond or take a cold shower and shout about how good they are. The endorphin rush induces feelings of happiness. So sauna mainly kicks you mentally, you will come up with different thoughts during it,” explains Matějovská. If the clouds fall on you in the cold months and a holiday in the heat is out of the question, a sauna is a great alternative for you to take a moment for yourself, warm up your body and clear your head.
5. Better sleep
Many people are surprised by the quality of their sleep after their first visit to the sauna, and for them it is also the reason why they like to come back. Several factors contribute to better sleep, the first of which is that you really relax without your phone, computer, in a quiet and pleasant environment. Another reason is related to the production of endorphins, which relax you and relieve stress and anxiety. And the third reason is related to the cooling of the body, where the body temperature rises rapidly in the sauna for about 30 minutes, and then the body expends energy to cool down, which leads to a feeling of calmness and relaxation. The brain cools down and induces deep sleep approximately 2 hours later.
Source: www.moda.cz
