Do Saunas Help You Lose Weight?

Many people think that they can lose weight by doing "saunas". This type of "diet" isn't really a diet but more of a method to maintain a healthy body weight. Many saunas promote the idea that you can do a variety of exercises and sweat it out to lose weight. But are saunas really effective weight loss tools?

The fact is that the sauna has no proven track record of helping people to lose weight. Saunas do release some heat into the body, however, and this can increase blood circulation and increase calorie burning. Some experts believe that saunas stimulate the heart and increase the metabolism. Other experts dispute this claim.

It's possible to lose weight in a sauna, yes, but weight loss isn't the only benefit. A sauna can improve the tone and muscle mass of your skin. Sweat lowers the body's core temperature, which has an effect on your skin. So by sweating it out in a sauna, you can tighten up and tone your body.

And that leads me to my next point. You can use a sauna to lose weight for a couple different reasons. You can do an "all or nothing" fast in which you only take in water and either end up sweating a lot or very little. Another way to do a sauna fast is to add a bar of baking soda to the water. This causes the water in the sauna to expand thus bringing on rapid weight loss. However, if you do this, you risk adding sodium to your bloodstream which can be harmful.

So saunas are really only good for moderate weight loss. They do not promote weight gain. Saunas can actually lower back pain since many people do sit-ups in them. And as we said before, they do have some diuretic properties which can be good for reducing fluid retention.

There are other benefits of a sauna besides weight loss. It can help relieve depression. And those with arthritis related problems often find comfort in a sauna. It can be an excellent venue for family therapy. My children's pediatrician uses them to keep both of them in shape. We've also done sauna therapy at my chiropractic office.

And don't forget how good you feel afterwards. No tiredness, no aches and pains. No crying at night. A warm towel soon lifts the mood and relaxes you. These are just a few reasons why someone might want to do saunas to shed off some pounds.

You do need to do some research to find out more about do saunas help you lose weight. There are books on this subject that you can buy. There are even health clubs around that offer this type of fitness program. And there are online websites that you can visit for more information. Once again don't forget the question "Why?"

Some people do think that these ancient sweat stains are a sign that someone is malnourished. But this isn't so. The heat from these spas can raise your metabolism rate, helping you burn calories. This can help you lose weight if it is combined with a healthy diet.

One of the best things about saunas is that they help you relieve stress. Stress can contribute to weight gain. You can do things like meditate and breathe deeply while being in the steam room. This helps you clear your mind and body of negative thoughts. As you can see, saunas do have a positive effect when it comes to weight loss.

You might be thinking that there are no calories in foods that you eat when it comes to weight loss. But the truth is that some calories do not get metabolized. And so, instead of burning those calories, your body turns them into fat.

If you do decide to use a sauna for weight loss reasons, make sure that you go with a reputable establishment. There are some companies out there that do not do anything but get your money. Look for a company with a good reputation. Also, ask your doctor to recommend a good brand. And last, but not least, remember that doing saunas help you lose weight, but so do the exercise, a healthy diet, and lots of rest.