The Benefits of Sauna Use
After listening to the Found My Fitness Podcast with Dr. Rhonda Patrick we can’t wait to for you all to jump into our sauna and reap the benefits of its use! Here is our summary followed by a link to the full episode. And be sure to take advantage of Sanitas' infrared Sauna (located right by the bathrooms), included with your membership. Just turn it on prior to class and it will be nice and toasty by the time you're ready to use it. Enjoy!
Sauna use stresses the body – in this case, a good thing.
Sauna use induces a controlled type of mild hyperthermia – an increase in the body's temperature that stresses cells. Cells respond by switching on an array of protective responses that improve health and may increase longevity. In many ways, sauna use is like exercise. It mimics many of the physiological responses to exercise (like an increase in heart rate and sweating) and carries many of the same benefits – a bonus for people recovering from injuries or who are less mobile.
Sauna use benefits health through a variety of mechanisms.
The list of benefits associated with sauna use is long: cardioprotection, neuroprotection, mood enhancement, muscle mass promotion, detoxification, and many, many others. And the more frequently a person uses the sauna, the more robust the effects. Some of the mechanisms that drive these benefits include the activation of heat shock proteins, dampening of inflammatory processes, and production of important proteins (like BDNF and Nrf2) that protect cells from future stressors – a phenomenon known as hormesis.
Click through the video below to listen to the topics of interest for you!
00:02:46 - Summary of sauna benefits
00:10:47 - Heat stress mimics the effects of aerobic exercise
00:17:37 - Heat shock proteins may protect the brain
00:27:43 - Investigating sauna use for depression
00:34:51 - Cellular repair mechanisms elicited by sauna use
00:40:05 - Prevention of muscle atrophy
00:46:40 - The synergy of sauna use and exercise
00:58:31 - My personal sauna protocol: duration, temperature, humidity, & frequency
01:03:22 - Jacuzzis, hydration, cold therapy, and sauna safety
01:17:16 - Limitations of current sauna research and hopes for future research