If you follow any notable influencers on Instagram or YouTube, it’s likely you’ll have heard of infrared saunas. It’s a self-care measure Australian influencers Sammy Robinson and Steph Smith swear by, but at a rate of about a dollar a minute, are infrared saunas worth it?
According to a study published in January 2018, regular infrared or Finnish sauna bathing can provide various health benefits, especially for those with cardiovascular related diseases, and athletes desiring increased athletic performance.
The claims, however, don’t stop there. Many influencers and spas claim that infrared saunas result in detoxification and relaxation too.
While we were sceptical, according to health and wellness expert Professor Marc Cohen, many of the claims made about saunas are actually completely true, and tested by science.
Heart disease
Dr. Cohen says that the benefits of saunaing are proven to reduce heart disease.
“[Saunaing] has quite conclusive benefits for heart disease,” says Cohen.
“When you are in a sauna, your heart is working harder but against less resistance, some people with heart disease can’t exercise because they have arthritis or it’s hard for them to move, for these people sauna bathing can provide a good cardiovascular workout,” he added.
He explained that saunaing opens up blood vessels, and forces the heart to beat faster due to the heat. This means that saunaing also flushes the body with blood which helps to remove built up waste products.
Top Comments
While sauna bathing is good, there really isn't any research that shows that the same health benefits from traditional saunas can also be applied to infrared enclosures. Infrared enclosures aren't actually saunas, will never provide the same experience, and really can't claim the same benefits. Some infrared enclosures have also been recalled due to faulty wiring and toxic finishes.
Even if infrared enclosures could claim the same benefits of a traditional sauna, it would only stand to reason that the higher temperature (and ability to add moisture to the air in the form of water sprinkled on the hot rocks) would greatly increase any therapeutic benefits. Not only that, but the traditional sauna environment is much more enjoyable, and has been time tested for centuries.