The Truth About Saunas and Calorie Burning
Saunas are one of the oldest ways of keeping oneself healthy. They originated in Finland and have spread globally due to their many benefits. People understand that inducing high temperatures within a controlled environment can relax a person and help them feel better. Traditional Finnish saunas, infrared saunas, and steam rooms are the different types of saunas. All of them provide a different experience.
A considerable number of people believe that saunas can help them burn calories and aid in weight loss. Many consider sauna expirience to be equivalent to working out with the hefty heat and sweating. Due to these beliefs, saunas have been prevalent among fitness enthusiasts and people who want to lose weight.
How the Science Behind Burning Calories Works?
Burning calories is the process of utilizing energy to fuel the body’s activities, both essential, such as breathing and circulation, and physical, such as working out, walking, or running. Energy units come in the form of food and drinks that we consume. Our bodies must burn these calories to function and maintain energy levels.
What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
The Basal Metabolic Rate, or BMR, is how much energy the body consumes to carry out fundamental activities, such as breathing, blood circulation, and cell growth and repair, while at complete rest. About 60 to 75 percent of all the energy we expend in a day comes from our basal metabolic rate. The factors that determine a person’s BMR are their age, gender, genetics, and body composition.
Several factors come into play to determine how many calories you burn:
- Age: Metabolic rate decreases with age in general.
- Weight: Obese burn more calories even at rest.
- Metabolic processes: Metabolism functions differently from person to person.
- Level of Activity: Physically demanding activity expels many calories.
The Truth About Saunas and Calorie-burning
Several studies determine the relationship between saunas and the burning of calories:
- Laukkanen et al.’s 2015 study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, determined that regular sauna bathing reduced heart diseases and death in general. However, it did not categorically prove that sauna use can help burn many calories.
- Gunnars 2020. It was shown in a Healthline story that though saunas could make one lose pounds with the loss of water because of sweat, they did not mean the burning of many calories as in the case of exercise.
- Mero et al. 2015 stated that calorie spending was not sufficient for weight loss alone.
Body Functioning and Heat Stress
Saunas create heat stress that can increase metabolic rate very quickly; for instance, a 30-minute practice in a Finnish or infrared sauna will cause sweating and raise the heart rate to increase burning calories, but this is not as drastic as exercise.
Saunas are great for health.
Heart and Blood Pressure
The use of a sauna can have significant positive effects on heart health, such as a boost in heart rate and circulation. Regarding the heat of the sauna, heart rate increases from the typical 60–70 beats per minute to 100–150 beats per minute, which is equivalent to the effects of light exercise. This increase can help the heart get into better shape in the long run because the blood moves better.
Some brands, such as Finnleo and Sunlighten, explicitly state these benefits regarding their products. Finnleo’s traditional Finnish saunas are engineered to emit high heat, which is said to enhance circulation and heart rate. On the other hand, Sunlighten’s infrared saunas emit a much softer heat that does the same.
Muscle Rest and Recovery
Exercisers often like saunas because they offer benefits for their muscles. The sauna heat helps the muscles get more blood flow, accelerating the delivery of oxygen and nourishment to the body. This can help the body heal faster, reduce muscle pain, and improve muscle functioning in general.
Clearlight’s infrared sauna models are popular with athletes because they penetrate deep inside the muscles and provide therapeutic heat to help them rest and recover. The gentle, constant heat of Clearlight saunas is well-suited to relieving muscle tension and stiffness, making them great for post-workout recovery.
Better Mental Health and Less Stress
The sauna can have huge effects on mental health, including reducing the level of stress and making you feel better. The relaxing environment of a sauna may reduce cortisol, which is the body’s chief stress hormone. From this, you will feel calm and healthy. Besides, the heat produced may stimulate the production of endorphins, chemicals that uplift and relieve the body.
Some brands, such as Sunlighten and Clearlight, advertise that their infrared spas are good for the mind. Sunlighten Saunas uses chromotherapy, or color therapy, to help individuals rest and feel better. Clearlight saunas are equipped with comfortable seats and soothing lighting that may provide a relaxing space conducive to mental health and relaxation.
A regular sauna session from a reputed brand such as Finnleo, Sunlighten, or Clearlight can offer an all-rounded approach to health, providing benefits for your heart, muscles, and mind. Though they do not replace workouts and medical treatment, saunas can be a healthy addition to a normal lifestyle.
The sauna has many health benefits, including improved heart health, quick muscle healing, and a reduction in stress. The transient increase in heart rate and the increased rate of sweating may give a slight kick to the metabolism, but it is not a substitute for regular exercise. Adding a sauna session to your wellness program can be helpful in improving health and well-being as a whole. Still, a wholesome diet coupled with an active lifestyle is essential for burning lots of calories and shedding pounds.
