It costs only a few pence to use your sauna for 30 minutes, but did you know that in that 30 minutes you could burn up to 300 calories? How? Well it’s actually quite simple.
As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate.
Many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of an sauna imparts a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective as regular exercise.
A moderately conditioned person can sweat off 250 grams of sweat. While the weight of the water lost can be regained by rehydration with water, the calories will not be.
The heart receives a workout similar to a 6-mile run in a 20-30 minute Far Infrared sauna session and the body perspires the same amount as a 6-mile run. Infrared saunas are perfect for those that do not have time for regular exercise or suffer from injuries that inhibit rigorous activity.
We recommend using an infrared sauna alongside regular exercise.
Sources: Journal of the American Medical Association, Department of Internal Medicine and University of Oulu, Finland, Division of Cardiology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington D.C.