Saunas have all kinds of health benefits like helping you relax and get a better night’s sleep, but can they also help you lose weight? Unfortunately using a sauna alone won’t produce dramatic weight loss but, as part of a healthy lifestyle, it can enhance the effects of diet and exercise. 

Does Sitting in a Sauna Help You Lose Weight?

It’s important to remember that when we talk about losing weight, we’re really talking about losing body fat. While the numbers on a scale might give us a little insight, and the concept of eating fewer calories than you need for maintenance might sound relatively easy, losing body fat is a process that takes time, work and patience and unfortunately isn’t as easy as sitting in a sauna every day. 

Because the intense heat makes you sweat, when you sit in a sauna you will lose excess water or “water weight” stored in your body. You can lose up to a few pounds in a single session but as you start to rehydrate, most of that weight will come back. So while there’s a tiny bit of what appears to be weight loss, it’s going to be temporary. 

When you’re exposed to intense heat or cold, your body has to work harder and your heart rate will increase which boosts your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories). It’s estimated that the high heat of a sauna could boost your metabolic rate while you’re in the sauna and last for a couple of hours afterward. While a sauna session may help you burn a few extra calories, it isn’t an effective tool for real weight loss.

How a Sauna Can Support a Weight Loss Plan

Although sitting in a sauna can’t replace physical activity, it can help you recover more quickly after exercise. When your body is under high heat from a sauna your heart rate rises, you increase circulation and release endorphins. A well-oxygenated body helps replace worn-out cells and endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers and create a general feeling of well-being. 

When our body is under high levels of stress, it releases a hormone called cortisol. Although cortisol is good for reducing muscle inflammation and regulating your blood pressure, too much of it can be a barrier for weight loss. Sitting in a sauna is a great way to relax and de-stress. The happier and more stress-free you are, the more likely you are to be healthy in all aspects of your life. 

Relaxing, reducing anxiety, having a better mood and sleeping more deeply are some of the main healing benefits you can get from regular deep-sweat sauna sessions. After relaxing in a sauna, you’re more likely to drop off to sleep more easily and get more of the deep sleep that you need to maintain mental and physical health. Sleeping well is a vital part of staying healthy and a sauna can help.

If you’re ready to add a sauna to your home we can help you find the perfect fit, give us a call at 970-879-4391 or contact us here.