Having a proper diet, keeping up in shape, and taking immunity supplements are just one of the many few ways you can explore in bolstering your immune system. However, if you want to maximise your immune system capability, IR sauna benefits can help with that.
In this article, we’ll talk about how incorporating IR saunas into your wellness routine can be a crucial helping hand and expose you to its immune system-boosting benefits.
How infrared saunas work
Infrared saunas work by directly heating you through infrared heat, penetrating four to five centimetres deep into the human body to induce heavy sweating.
During this time, your body will undergo ‘vasodilation’, a process that causes your core body temperature to rise, mimicking an artificially-induced ‘fever.’ In this process, your body’s immune system gets benefits such as the following:
Increased white blood cell production
While a general misconception is that a fever is a harmful and uncomfortable indicator caused by an infection, a fever is your body’s response to the foreign pathogen in your body and ‘burns them’ out since they cannot withstand high temperatures.
When a foreign pathogen enters your body such as an infection or an illness, your body’s first response is to crank up your immune system by raising your body’s core temperature beyond 37°C.
Since infrared saunas place your body in an artificially induced fever, they increase your white blood count, which is essential for fighting off infections and other specific proteins, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs) that help fend off viruses and bacteria.
HSPs reorganise the proteins in your cells whenever it is damaged by an injury or foreign pathogen, which can result in an overall stronger immune system.
Encourages detoxification
Since infrared saunas induce deep sweating to keep your body from overheating, you are also expelling harmful toxins like arsenic, lead, mercury, and environmental pollutants out of your body.
However, as you sweat, you also expel fluids and electrolytes to dissipate the excess heat in your body. This drawback can be prevented by drinking plenty of fluids before an infrared sauna session.
Lowers stress
Stress and your immune function are closely linked to each other, and if high-stress levels are present in your body, it can result in a weakened immune system.
Excess levels of cortisol– the body’s stress hormone– can hamper your immune system’s defensive capabilities to fight off foreign pathogens such as bacteria and viruses and expose you to the common cold and more serious viral conditions.
Regular infrared sauna sessions help balance cortisol levels while also boosting endorphin release– the body’s ‘feel-good’ hormone– putting your body in a state of relaxation, thereby reducing stress.
Do saunas cause an allergic reaction?
Some companies construct their saunas with lower-quality materials to cut costs; the most common wood they use are plywood, particleboard, and Western Red Cedar wood, which can be highly toxic and cause respiratory irritations when heated.
The most common respiratory irritations include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, asthma-like symptoms, and nervous system effects.
Our Sun Stream Sauna models use premium materials built with 100 per cent hypoallergenic Canadian Hemlock, which makes them perfect for people with sensitive skin or specific allergies.
Conclusion
While IR saunas do help in boosting up your immune capabilities and reduce stress, nothing beats having a proper diet, exercise, and enough sleep. We highly recommend laying off any supplements and adding an infrared sauna into your already-existing health routine instead.
Ready to take the next step? reach out to Sun Stream Saunas today and we’ll help you get started on your wellness journey.