Within our daily lives, we are exposed to chemicals through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we use. These potential toxins can play a major role in our quality of health. One approach to reducing the toxins is sweating them out! 

There are a variety of ways to sweat, including exercises like running, weight lifting, yoga (extra sweaty in a heated room!), dancing, and biking! But if you don’t have the energy to get in a sweat, how can you still experience the benefits of sweating? Saunas!

Heat treatments like saunas have been prized for thousands of years for their ability to support detoxification and relaxation.

There are two main types of saunas to check out:

Traditional Saunas
Traditional saunas generally use steam to create temperatures as high as 195°F. Since this creates a humid heat, some may find traditional saunas uncomfortable.  

Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas specifically use light rather than heightened air temperatures. Interestingly, this actually tends to lead to more perspiration, but since the temperature is lower (ranging from 120°F to 150°F), many find it more comfortable.

Potential health benefits of an infrared sauna include: 

• Relaxation
• Detoxification
• Improved circulation
• Muscle recovery
• Reduced stress
• Enhanced mood

The American College of Sports Medicine generally recommends no more than 10 minutes at a time and waiting at least 10 minutes after exercise to enter a sauna.  Exceeding 10 minutes can lead to dehydration.

You can typically find infrared saunas in spas, gyms, wellness centers, and health hubs like Clean Market in NYC, which was founded by Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Lily Kunin!

Have you tried an infrared sauna? Tell us your experience in the comments below!