Does Sauna Help Detox? Exploring the Facts

Sauna bathing has many wellness and health advantages, from enhancing blood circulation to post-exercise pain relief and relaxing the body and mind. Despite these benefits, one question reigns supreme. Does having a sauna session help you detox? Read on to discover the facts about this concept. 

How Does Sauna and Detoxification Work?

While saunas have long been affiliated with detoxification, they don’t detoxify the body directly. It is worth noting that your body is exposed to toxins in various ways, such as through the environment, water, and food. Yet, the body has its natural way of eliminating these toxins. Sweating is one of the critical methods the body uses to release toxins, and this is where the sauna comes in. 

A sauna session simplifies and accelerates the detox process due to its hot atmosphere that leaves you sweating profusely, as would be the case during extensive physical activity or vigorous workout. So, a sauna can help you detox through sweating.

Understanding the Facts Behind Detoxification Through Sweating

Often, the temperature inside a sauna ranges between 150 and 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you enter the sauna, your body temperature increases exponentially, increasing the heat rate and pushing blood flow close to your skin’s surface.

A fast heart rate emanates from lipolysis, a process that breaks down the fat tissues holding toxins, releasing them into the bloodstream. Again, the sauna triggers sweating, hence opening skin pores.

As a result, some toxins are expelled from the body through the pores with the sweat. Toxins, such as air pollutants, often get stuck under your skin pores and are released when you sweat. Besides detoxification, a sauna session helps the body release heat-shock proteins, which are vital for enhancing immunity.

The Process of Detoxifying in the Sauna

Detoxifying your body inside the sauna is more than sitting in the sauna and sweating all the toxins out. It’s a holistic process where participants should relax from the word go and take it a step at a time. For example, if you are a beginner in sauna practice, start with shorter sessions of 8 to 10 minutes inside the sauna.

Remember, the sauna's heat is intense, so check how it feels inside the unit and ensure the heat is not overpowering. Once you get used to the practice, you can stretch your session to 15 or 30 minutes. Don’t stay in the sauna for more than 30 minutes, as doing so can result in skin rashes and dehydration. 

What’s the Recommended Duration of a Detox Session?

The ideal sauna detox duration is 30 minutes or as long as you feel comfortable. Remember, different people have varying heat endurance levels. As a result, it's important to determine the amount of heat that’s too much for you.

Always leave the sauna immediately if you start feeling uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, or fatigue. These symptoms could indicate staying in the sauna beyond what your body can tolerate. Monitor your body’s endurance, but strive to enjoy the utmost benefits of the detox session. 

Understanding the Pre- and Post-Sauna Detox Procedure

Here are best practices to help you enjoy your sauna experience. 

• Avoid engaging in intensive physical activity or working out 45 minutes before having your sauna session.
• Drink lots of water before and during your sauna session to avoid dehydration.
• Suppose you just had a vigorous physical activity; consider resting for between 30 minutes to one hour before getting in the sauna
• Shower after the sauna to remove toxins expelled through sweat from your skin

What Toxins Does a Sauna Expel?

Spending between 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna can be what you need to eliminate lots of toxins from your body, including:

• Chemicals such as mycotoxins and pesticides present in water and BPA present in plastic
• Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury
• Toxins from nicotine, drugs, and alcohol
• Environmental pollution, viruses, and bacteria

Does the Sauna Aid Nicotine Detoxification?

Saunas can help detoxify nicotine toxins from chewing nicotine gums or smoking cigarettes. While the detoxification process works through sweating, the effectiveness of saunas works only for people who have quit smoking nicotine. 

Does the Sauna Help with Alcohol Detoxification?

Are you seeking a solution for total alcohol detoxification? The sauna may not be the best solution. However, it can help with detoxification. For example, one study published by the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology revealed that sauna sessions can considerably lower alcohol levels in the blood.

Still, alcohol detoxification using a sauna has not been researched conclusively. Again, the available studies are yet to extensively prove the effectiveness of saunas in flushing alcohol out of the bloodstream. 

Will the Sauna Help Detox the Liver?

Saunas are recognized for their ability to detoxify the liver, more so among heavy drinkers. The liver facilitates the natural detoxification process in the human body, including filtering pollutants and alcohol. However, drinking excess alcohol regularly can reduce the normal functioning of the liver or even damage it.

So, can the sauna help with liver detoxification? According to the Journal of Hepatology, having regular sauna sessions can lower your chances of developing liver ailments. While saunas can aid the detoxification process, your healthcare provider will recommend a comprehensive liver detoxification plan. 

Does the Sauna Support Drug Detoxification?

Unlike nicotine or even alcohol detox, detoxifying drugs through regular sauna sessions can be complicated, more so for people addicted to drugs. The concept of sweating and detoxifying inside the sauna after using drugs can be sensible. However, you can’t sweat all the drugs in the sauna after a prolonged addiction. Still, saunas can facilitate the detoxification process for recovering people with an addiction.

For example, many people who quit drugs will often experience body aches and pain. The sauna can relieve the pain, making recovery less painful. Again, recovering drug addicts are prone to withdrawal symptoms such as depression, mood swings, anxiety, and irregular sleep patterns. Sauna bathing can come in handy to help relieve these symptoms. 

Which is the Best Sauna for Detox?

All sauna types can be effective for detoxification because they help you sweat profusely, which is the standard for a sauna detox. Whether you choose an infrared or traditional sauna should be based on your preference. 

What Scientific Proof of Detoxification Through Sweating is Available?

Various experiments and studies have been conducted in the recent past, suggesting that sweating can help with detoxification. Here are the most acclaimed studies.

·       ​Hubbard Protocol

The Hubbard Protocol has used the sauna and other detoxification methods like exercising to lower toxin levels in the body. The results indicate reduced Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) levels, lower fatigue and pain, and improved IQ. 

·       The University of Alberta Research 

Researchers from the University of Alberta Research have published many studies demonstrating that toxins are flushed out of the body through blood, urine, and sweating. 

Complementing a Sauna Detox Process

To improve your sauna detox results, you must make various lifestyle changes such as:

• Consume a healthy, fiber-filled diet and avoid processed or junk food
• Exercise regularly to promote well-being and physical strength
• Get sufficient sleep to improve physical health and brain performance
• Hydrate well to promote the maximum functioning of the body's organs
• Seek professional help to help you quit drugs
• Reduce your nicotine and alcohol intake or quit the practice altogether

Finally

Saunas can speed up the detoxification process, helping you to remain healthy in the long term. Installing the unit in your home is one of the best ways to enjoy regular sauna sessions. Getting a sauna will help you cut the cost of regular spa sessions while ensuring you reap optimal sauna detox benefits.