Benefits of an Infrared Sauna Detox

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after working up a good sweat? Refreshed, revived, physically purified? Turns out there’s a very good reason for that—and you don’t have to knock yourself out at the gym to reap the rewards. Sauna detoxification delivers a number of health benefits, and an infrared sauna detox makes them even more accessible. 

Sauna therapy for detoxification and healing

 It’s no secret that modern life is literally toxic. Every day we’re bombarded with countless chemicals, both natural and manmade, and toxins such as heavy metals are all around us. We breathe them in the air, we eat them in our food, we even wear them on our bodies in the clothes we wear and the residue of the detergents we use to wash them. Chemicals can’t be avoided. But regular sauna detox sessions can help us purge out toxins like heavy metals to keep our organs, tissues, and immune systems functioning at their best.

Heavy metals are particularly important to detox because of the damage they may cause to our immune functioning. It’s thought that exposure to heavy metals can lead to tissue damage inside the body. If your immune system no longer recognizes the damaged tissue as yours, this can trigger an autoimmune response as your body mobilizes to fight its own cells.

Exposure to heavy metals may also trigger a chronic inflammation response, taxing your immune system and setting the stage for chronic illness. Following a sauna and detox protocol helps your body flush the heavy metals and other toxins out of your system before they can affect your overall health. 

Pictured: An example of the interior of an infrared sauna for detoxification benefits.

Infrared sauna for detoxification

Working up a sweat is an excellent way to help your body flush out toxins. If you’ve ever wondered why sweat from exercise smells different—usually much stronger!—than sweat from hot weather, this is why. When supported by drinking plenty of water, the combination of an elevated heart rate and a heavy sweat works to expel toxins from your body.

However, you don’t have to work out to see these effects. Infrared saunas raise your body’s core temperature, heart rate, and blood circulation, making detoxification a key infrared sauna detox benefit.

Infrared sauna detox tips for beginners

 If you’ve never used an infrared sauna for detoxification before, start with short sessions of 10-15 minutes. As you get used to the process, you can increase your time up to 40 minutes. The ideal infrared sauna temperature for detox is from 100-130 degrees Fahrenheit; similarly, work up gradually from a lower to a higher temperature to build your tolerance.

Of course, there are other ways to support your sauna detoxification. Make sure to drink plenty of water both before and after your session. And support your liver’s crucial role in detoxifying your body by supplementing your diet with either glutathione or the glutathione precursor N-acetyl-cysteine to more fully eliminate toxins from your system.

Finally, once you’re in your infrared sauna, relax! Relaxation and stress relief also play a role in preventing inflammation and illness, and the warmth of an infrared sauna makes it a perfect environment to loosen up and release some of the stress of your day.