Myths about the health effects of the sauna

Some people dread sweating in the sauna, while others can’t live without it. Whether to relax your muscles after a workout or simply because you enjoy sweating, visiting the sauna is believed to have many health benefits. But how much of it is true? Here are three myths about the health effects of the sauna.

Sauna helps you lose weight

The sauna does stimulate your metabolism, but it doesn’t directly cause weight loss, at least not in a lasting way. During a sauna session, you can lose approximately half to one and a half litres of fluid, depending on the heat and duration of the sauna. As you visit the sauna more frequently, your body will become more accustomed to the heat, and you’ll start sweating faster. However, you need to replenish the lost fluids by drinking water. So, while you may temporarily lose water weight, you’re not losing fat. After all, sweating doesn’t build muscle mass.

Sauna improves your fitness

Unfortunately, the sauna does nothing for your fitness. The cardiovascular stress of a sauna session is sometimes compared to that of a brisk walk, but it does not affect overall muscle function, fitness, or conditioning. While your body experiences a stress response that raises your heart rate, the sauna cannot replace exercise or improve heart and vascular functions. There’s no evidence that sauna visits can replace physical activity or enhance cardiovascular fitness.

Sauna detoxifies your dody

It would be convenient if, after a night of intense exercise, followed by indulging in alcoholic drinks, you could simply flush out all the toxins the next day in the sauna. However, detoxing through the sauna doesn’t work, no matter how much you sweat. There’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that a sauna visit increases the liver’s detoxification function. Sweating in the sauna may lead to increased fluid intake, which can help your kidneys eliminate more waste substances. You might feel better and healthier, but that could also be attributed to the overall relaxing effect of the sauna.