Can a Sauna help you lose weight? Can it lower your cholesterol levels?
Quick facts about cholesterol:
- Cholesterol is actually essential for our body to function. Our body produces cholesterol and also acquires more from the food we eat.
- There are not many visible symptoms of high cholesterol
- Why you have high cholesterol may be a factor of family history, poor diet, lack of exercise, age or gender.
- Men are more susceptible to high cholesterol levels when younger but women have been found to have high cholesterol after age 55.
- If your lifestyle doesn’t change, the doctors may prescribe lipid lowering drugs such as statin.
- If kept unchecked, high cholesterol poses huge risk of heart diseases.
- Stress can induce high cholesterol levels.
Many people are looking to other options to steer clear of lipid lowering drugs. These drugs have various side effects such as muscle pain, memory loss, sleep problems, nausea, decreased sexual drive, etc. We suggest sauna baths along with a change in lifestyle.
What happens when cholesterol levels increase?
Fatty cholesterol sticks to the walls of your arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. They are very important for healthy blood circulation. Cholesterol build-up can cause narrowing or hardening of the arteries and can cause conditions such as coronary heart disease or heart attack. The buildup of cholesterol plaque on the walls of the arteries can lead to serious heart problems.
Do saunas help to lower your cholesterol?
The answer is yes, to some extent. Our bodies need cholesterol. It helps in building body cells. But when you consume large amounts of cholesterol in the food you eat, that is when things can cause issues.
Regular sauna sessions have been proved to reduce heart diseases. Read further to know how sauna can help you achieve that.
Saunas work on dry heat. The heat you are exposed to has invariable health benefits. Sauna sessions can yield approximately similar effects to physical exercise.
- Better blood circulation
Dry heat causes the blood vessels to dilate. This makes the essential nutrients and oxygen reach your muscles faster. Overall blood circulation is improved. Your heart rate increases thus your blood pressure is lowered. Improved blood circulation is necessary to prevent blockage in arteries.
- Getting rid of harmful toxins
Since, it makes your heart rate increase, you sweat. Sweating is very important. It helps your body get rid of harmful components which are otherwise difficult for your body to eliminate. It also helps to clear your skin.
- Boosting immunity
Regular sauna sessions can help increase your metabolic rate. This happens because of better circulation. This additionally improves your immunity. It keeps minor infections such as cold, flu at bay.
- Reduces stress
A 20 minute sauna bath can relax your nerves. The tranquil setting transports you, allowing you to meditate and come out completely rejuvenated. This significantly lowers your stress levels. The heat helps our brain in releasing stress relieving hormones that help you stay attentive and focused.
There are a few precautionary measures that you must take into consideration before going for sauna sessions.
Drink enough water before you enter. Don’t consume any alcohol prior to using the sauna. Always consult a doctor before taking up sauna sessions. Don’t sit in there for long intervals (25+ minutes). Take time to cool off. While using a sauna, make sure to spread a thick towel on the bench before sitting on it. This towel will help to absorb sweat and salts that will be released from the body and avoid staining the sauna wood.
Final Thoughts
According to International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, sauna baths can significantly lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Educating yourself about cholesterol and risks associated with it is detrimental to prevent heart diseases.
Taking cholesterol lowering drugs that your doctor suggests can increase your dependency over medicines and expose you to dangerous side effects. These medicines can help you, however, it is absolutely imperative that they are not practical to take them your entire life. You can test saunas or steam baths as an alternative. With good diet and exercise coupled with regular sauna sessions, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Let us know what you think!