It's early morning at the home of doctor and nutrition expert Berit Nordstrand. Before the world comes knocking, she has found her warm spot – in her infrared SaunaPod.
– I've become addicted to the warm wellness of the sauna, she smiles.
Taking an infrared sauna has become part of her regular morning routine – a small ritual where she sweats out foreign substances, soothes muscle soreness, gathers her thoughts, and gives her cells a gentle "kick-start."
Meditative repair
However, infrared sauna is not new to her. Over ten years ago, Berit started with a large, permanently installed model, and it wasn't long before she noticed how good it was for sleep, mood, and recovery.
Today, she has switched to a more flexible solution: Radiant Health's portable IR SaunaPod, which can be easily packed away.
– But what's the point? She smiles as she says it. The sauna has become a permanent fixture in the living room – always ready for use.
– I use my IR SaunaPod about five days a week, often before showering and eating brunch.
After about 40 minutes at 55 degrees, she feels clear-headed, relaxed in her muscles, and calmer in her body. Before the session, she drinks half a liter of water with a little sea salt and lemon juice – or electrolytes – to support both mineral and fluid balance.
– Afterwards, I take a shower that ends a bit cool. The contrast between heat and cold provides extra circulation and strengthens stress resistance. I view the sauna as a form of meditative repair. I love it!
A whole range of health benefits have been demonstrated in an increasing number of studies.
– The IR rays penetrate deeply through the skin and into the fat tissue, affecting the body so that it cleanses itself while I sit and enjoy myself. But even though sweating cleanses, sauna is about more than detoxification. It also provides stress reduction, better circulation, and cell repair at a deeper level.
Extinguishing the internal inflammation fire
Berit Nordstrand is one of the country's most prominent voices in gut health and holistic lifestyle. She is currently promoting her book On the Team with Your Gut and the app gutWise, a digital tool for personal lifestyle balance. Here, she elaborates on how infrared heat can strengthen holistic health – including gut health and the immune system.
– When the body is warmed in an infrared sauna, blood circulation and oxygen supply to the tissues increase, while also activating heat shock proteins (HSP). These small "cell repairers" help the body repair damage, reduce oxidative stress, and strengthen the immune system.
Regular infrared sauna can help dampen chronic, low-grade inflammation – the silent inflammation that is part of the root cause of many lifestyle diseases. When inflammation is calmed, the intestinal lining and bacterial flora are also strengthened. The stress hormone cortisol drops, and you get better blood flow to the digestive organs – which provides better conditions for good gut bacteria and a stronger intestinal lining.
– IR sauna can therefore contribute to the repair of leaky gut – or increased intestinal permeability, as we doctors call the condition. When I talk about "extinguishing the internal inflammation fire," it's about using the entire toolbox: food, sleep, activity, breathing, detoxification, and recovery, she explains.
She refers to IR sauna as a good tool for strengthening the body's ability to repair itself – and making us more robust in facing everyday stress.
Regular sauna use can reduce health problems
As a specialist in toxicology, Berit is particularly pleased that sauna bathing can also help detoxify the body.
We are all, to varying degrees, exposed to pollution (toxins) – through the air we breathe, through the skin from textiles, detergents, skin care, and sunscreen, and through food and drink. Studies of groups with high exposure to toxins reported improvements in physical health and fewer health problems after sauna treatment.
– Regular sauna therapy can play a significant role in reducing health problems and improving overall health among people with high exposure to toxins.
Infrared vs. traditional sauna
Berit experiences a big difference between traditional and infrared sauna, both in terms of comfort and effect.
– The traditional sauna gives a more intense heat experience, where I can feel discomfort from the strong heat before the sweat pours out in the same way as in my IR SaunaPod.
She describes the infrared as gentler – but at the same time more effective.
– I sweat more in my IR sauna than in a traditional sauna, and it is more effective for muscle recovery after exercise.
Peace of mind, glowing skin, stronger health
To those considering starting with infrared sauna, she recommends starting gently, listening to your body, and letting it become part of a larger lifestyle journey.
– It's not just about sweating it out, but about giving the body space to recover and renew itself. I usually say: "Infrared heat gives you peace of mind, glowing skin, and stronger health," she concludes.
The way forward…
This collaboration stems from a shared commitment to holistic health and sustainable habits. Together with Berit, Radiant Health aims to highlight the importance of rest, balance, and warmth – as a natural part of everyday life.
In the coming period, Berit will share her personal routines and reflections on infrared heat and lifestyle, with the goal of inspiring more people to take care of their own health in a simple and conscious way.
Text: Trine Dahlman
Source: On the Team with Your Gut, Berit Nordstrand, Bonnier Norsk Forlag, Oslo 2025
