Want to look 5-years younger?
Want to look 5-years younger? My husband reckons that this was the effect of my 30-minutes sauna the other day! He might have been winding me up, but I really did feel invigorated and glowing after it.
If you think having a sauna is just something you do when you are having a day at the spa, then think again. When done the right way it can be part of a therapeutic means of detoxing your body.
Not just any old sauna but an infrared sauna.
How can an infrared sauna help?
Quite simply, it may help release some of those toxins stored deep in your fat cells, taking the burden off other detox organs. Plus it can help get rid of heavy metals, nicotine, ammonia and other dangerous environmental toxins which you won’t get from exercise or diet alone. These toxins and chemicals may be at the root of your health issues.
How does an infared sauna work?
Our tissues normally produce infrared energy for warmth and tissue repair between 4 to 16 microns. The heat radiating from the sauna is between 7 – 14 microns.
Far infrared saunas emit energy that travels 2-3″ deep into your body and heats the body so we sweat without raising the temperature of the surrounding air. At the same time, organs and tissues are stimulated. This allows you to be able to breathe comfortably and enjoy the benefits for
extended periods of time. You tend to sweat 2-3 times as much as a conventional sauna so lots of toxins get released.
Are saunas safe for everyone?
No. I recommend you avoid if:
– you are pregnant or breastfeeding
– have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
– you are taking medications, best check with your health professional
– you have a history of heavy recreational drug use
– you have a severe infection
What should I do to get the most out of using a sauna?
– Try to go daily for a couple of weeks or at the very least, once weekly for a couple of months.
– Spend 20/30 minutes walking on a treadmill or similar to get your body moving
– Exercise promotes deep circulation & stimulates the lymphatic system
– It helps release those fat-stored toxins
– When you sweat in a far-infrared sauna you lose some vitamins and minerals in the sweat, so I recommend you take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral daily or 2tsp of Vital Greens added to your juice.
– You might need to top up your electrolyte levels with Tissues Salts and a pinch of Himalyan Rock Salt
– And to help sweep toxins out of your body I’d recommend some binders, such as Activated Charcoal.
– To offset the loss of body fluids through sweating it’s crucial to consume enough liquid. I recommend veggie juices (see recipe below) as they are the most cleansing and most nourishing to the body; aim for about 700ml whilst you are in the sauna plus extra filtered water.
– Choosing a nourishing diet is important too; definitely increase your intake of fresh green veggies and keep refined carbs to a minimum.
– Wherever possible choose organic foods as pesticides, herbicides or other toxic residues just burden the body with more chemicals it must detoxify while cleansing.
– Sleep…make sure you get a good night’s sleep if you are planning to detox the next day to help support the demands of the detox on your body.
Sauna Juice
– Large handful of kale, lightly steamed
– 1 ½ celery sticks including leaves
– 10cm of cucumber
– 1 green apple
– Handful of parsley
– ½ a whole lemon, including peel
– 1 cup of ice cubes
– 1 cup of filtered water, maybe more to achieve your desired consistency
Most of all, relax and enjoy!
If you are not in good health please liaise with a health professional for further