A woman holding a tape measure while measuring her waist.

How An Infrared Sauna Aids in Weight Loss

Weight loss can be challenging, and many of us have tried the various diets and programs, only to fail or become frustrated. It can be both physically exhausting and mentally draining when we aren’t able to reach our goals. Sometimes we just surrender and stop trying.

An infrared sauna can help accelerate your weight loss journey in various ways when combined with healthy eating habits and exercise. Dr. Fatima Cody Standford, a physician with Harvard-Affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital details it here.

Stress, Cortisol, and Weight Gain

When you are stressed, your adrenal glands release adrenaline and cortisol. As a result, glucose or body sugars (your primary source of energy) are released into your bloodstream. Your body naturally does this in order to give you the energy you need to escape from a difficult situation, widely known as your flight or fight response.

Once you’ve relaxed, your adrenaline wears off and your blood sugar spike drops. This is when cortisol works quickly to replenish your energy supply.

Since your stress levels caused your blood sugar to significantly drop, you naturally gravitate towards more sugary foods like pastries or ice cream. Allowing yourself to eat sugary foods can be harmless, however, when you are constantly stressed and constantly reaching for these kinds of food, it can create a vicious cycle that results in unwanted weight gain.

Too much cortisol can cause you to crave more sugar than your body actually needs promoting overeating and weight gain.

According to a study done by the Institute of Biomedical Science, an infrared sauna session promotes the release of cortisol by increasing core body temperature. This will then help control sugar levels, regulate metabolism, help reduce inflammation, and assist with memory formulation.

Beyond that, infrared studies have shown that with proper hydration, infrared can help promote weight loss.

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Increases Your Metabolism

Unlike regular saunas, infrared saunas have the ability to penetrate the skin more deeply resulting in an increase in your metabolic rate. Metabolism is the process where your body converts what you eat and drink into energy.

By increasing your metabolic rate you will burn more calories at rest and during any physical activity.

Once your metabolism has significantly increased and you’ve reached your weight loss goal, you can begin to enjoy more of your favorite foods while maintaining the healthy body you’ve been working so hard for.

A woman wearing a robe in an infrared sauna and scrubbing her skin with a beauty tool.

Reduces the Appearance of Cellulite

Cellulite is the accumulation of fat underneath the skin which creates a lumpy, dimple-like texture.

Saunas help eliminate cellulite due to sweating, which leads to detoxification. Often by combining massage and infrared, you can see faster cellulite reduction. Beyond that, infrared helps increase the concentration of collagen production, leading to healthier, younger skin.

Infrared Sauna for Weight Loss Do’s and Don’ts

While over-exercising for weight loss can be counterproductive, an excessive amount of sauna sessions can also have its bad effects. One important thing to remember is, everything in moderation

1. Do supplement your infrared sauna for weight loss journey with a combination of healthy eating and exercising habits. Don’t rely on sauna sessions to replace a nutritious diet and physical activity.

2. Do hydrate more often. Your body will need more water while partaking in sauna sessions. Don’t refrain from drinking water when you see immediate weight loss, since this is water loss, not fat loss and you always want to replenish.

3. Do start with shorter sessions and work your way up. Don’t sit in a sauna for over 30 minutes.

Weight loss can be frustrating when we are unaware of how our hormones can work against our weight loss goals.

However, losing even a small amount of weight with the help of an infrared sauna leads to added health benefits and will likely motivate you to continue on with your fitness journey.

Frequently Asked Questions on Sauna Weight Loss

  1. How Much Weight Can I Lose in a Sauna?

    Evidence shows that in a 30-minute sauna session, a person can burn from 200-600 calories. Combined with exercise and a good diet, the sauna helps accelerate your goals.

  2. What Temperature Should My Sauna Be Set for Weight Loss?

    To get acclimated to your sauna, set the temperature at the 100-degree mark. As you progress, you can gradually increase the temperature a little bit at a time until it reaches the 130-150 degree mark.

  3. How Long Should I Sit in the Sauna for Weight Loss?

    A safe sauna session is 20-30 minutes. If you’re just starting out, begin with 5-10 minutes and work up from there.

  4. Can I Do Exercises or Workouts in My Sauna?

    If room permits and your body is able to, yes! Taking part in various exercises that don’t require a lot of movement can be a great way to help burn more calories. Be careful you don’t overexert yourself and be sure to hydrate properly.

  5. Can the Sauna Make Me Reduce Belly Fat?

    On its own, no. However, when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, the addition of a sauna can help your body to burn more calories and lose more weight.

Health Mate infrared saunas utilize low EMF heaters alongside safe near-, mid-, and far-infrared waves in order to heat the body from the inside out, promote healing, and a host of other benefits even beyond weight loss. Shop our infrared saunas for saleContact us for more information.