What is the difference between infrared sauna and steam/traditional sauna?
Traditional saunas that use steam or hot rocks heat the air within the sauna cabin to warm up the body. On the other hand, Far Infrared (FIR) saunas utilize the warming properties of the sun's far infrared spectrum to heat the body, instead of warming up the air inside the cabin. This process is known as conversion. Unlike traditional saunas, FIR saunas heat only the object and do not increase the temperature of the surrounding air. To better comprehend how infrared heat functions, envision yourself outdoors on a sunny day with the sun shining down on you. You feel warm from the sun, and your body gets hot. Suddenly, a cloud blocks the sun, and even though the temperature outside remains the same, you feel cooler in the shade. This is because your body was being heated by the sun's far infrared rays. Similarly, infrared heaters warm up the body in the same way as natural sunlight.
Is Infrared safe?
All living beings require far infrared (FIR) heat from the sun, which is a narrow band of energy within the 5-to-15-micron level, unlike ultraviolet radiation. FIR energy travels 40-45 mm deep into the body, providing the healthy benefits of natural sunlight without any of the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Although the sun is the primary source of radiant energy, not all of its energy is beneficial since it also contains harmful ultraviolet rays. Fortunately, the far infrared sauna does not emit such dangerous rays.
For many years, the healthcare industry has employed infrared heat lamps as a source of FIR heat, such as in warming prematurely born babies. However, these heating lamps were inconvenient, excessively hot, and challenging to maintain at a constant temperature. The recent development of ceramic and carbon fibre infrared heaters has provided a more convenient source of FIR heat.
Spending insufficient time outdoors can result in a lack of infrared in our bodies. While far infrared can penetrate and heat our bodies, causing us to sweat, the chemical composition of the sweat is significantly different from that produced by a steam bath, traditional steam/hot rock sauna, or exercise. Sweat from using a far infrared sauna contains not only water but also cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals (such as mercury, aluminum, and arsenic), nicotine, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and other undesirable elements. Conversely, sweat produced through other methods, including exercise, is mostly water and sodium chloride (salt).
Using an infrared sauna on a regular basis has a cumulative effect on the body, enhancing its benefits over time.
How To Find Your Baseline Sauna Temperature
To obtain a starting baseline, you must consider the following points. A baseline sauna will differ from person to person depending on multiple factors like fitness levels, vitality, and overall health. As a guide you should be able to sit in the sauna for approximately 30 mins without feeling like it’s to taxing. You should be able to get a good sweat on, feel pretty good and not be staring at the clock waiting for it to be over. Typically, this would include a temperature range of between 45 – 55 degrees. Our sauna heats up to a maximum of 70 degrees Celsius.